worth a read Homocystein ++

January 2, 2008

A tad more information if you R interested.

The Word is Out on Homocysteine

By Paul Frankel, Ph.D. and Terri Mitchell

The importance of homocysteine in relation to heart disease is becoming well-known outside of research institutes. In addition to NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, articles have been published in Newsweek (2/17/97), The Wall Street Journal (8/19/92 and 2/2/95), The Los Angeles Times (7/4/96), Prevention magazine (7/94), and more. Spots have been aired on the radio by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and McCully is coming out with a new book. The relationship between homocysteine and heart disease is so firm that some insurance companies are paying for homocysteine testing in some circumstances. From JAMA to Prevention magazine, homocysteine has become the word in heart disease. An International Symposium is Held

In 1995, the Journal of Nutrition (the official publication of the American Institute of Nutrition) asked researchers from around the world to present data on the relationship between homocysteine and heart disease.Dr. Peter Harpel of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine reported that lipoprotein(a) and fibrinogen damage the cardiovascular system much more actively in the presence of homocysteine. In the Hordaland Homocysteine Study of over 10,000 people in Norway, it was found that being female and taking vitamins were associated with low homocysteine levels. After reviewing the data, Dr. Lars Brattström of Kalmer County Hospital in Sweden reported that levels of homocysteine directly correlate with cardiovascular disease. A major theme of the seminar was that while some people may not respond to a particular homocysteine-lowering supplement, the combination of TMG, vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 decreased homocysteine in nearly every patient. That's why the standard treatment for lowering homocysteine, from Prince Henry Hospital in Australia, to University Hospital Nijmegen in the Netherlands-to Harvard Medical School-is a supernutrient combination of TMG, B6, B12 and folic acid.

Lowering Homocysteine

Supernutrient dietary supplements, taken in the right amounts, can lower levels to normal in 95% of cases. Lowering homocysteine through supplements is the single most important and well-documented use of vitamins and quasi-vitamins to date. According to Dr. Stampfer of Harvard (and seven other researchers from well-known U.S. research institutions), Betaine (TMG or trimethylglycine), folic acid (folate), vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and choline are effective in lowering homocysteine.Unfortunately, neither researchers nor clinicians agree on what constitutes a safe level of homocysteine. One study has suggested that every 4µmol/L (4µmol/mL) increase in homocysteine equals a 40% increase in risk. Other studies confirm that there is a very fine line between what is a safe level and what is not. In the Physicians' Health Study, the men who had heart attacks or died of cardiovascular disease were separated in their homocysteine levels from the ones who didn't by only a few micromoles difference in homocysteine. It is far from clear at this point that any of the large-scale studies have been conducted long enough, and with sufficient scrutiny, to determine what is a safe level of homocysteine. There is no magic "cut-off" or "safe" level of homocysteine at the present time.Part of the problem may lie in the methods used to measure homocysteine. According to McCully's work, there are different forms of homocysteine - some of them more reactive than others. Presently, all homocysteine is measured together, without separating out the more damaging form. The situation is analogous to the problem with cholesterol: while it is oxidized cholesterol that is problematic, standard tests measure all cholesterol, and don't distinguish between oxidized and non-oxidized. The failure of both cholesterol and homocysteine tests to quantify the more dangerous forms of both substances causes problems when trying to determine what is safe and what is not safe. However, it does not negate the fact that both are associated with heart disease. People who are wondering whether they should have their homocysteine levels tested should be aware that certain risk factors are associated with elevated homocysteine. According to the Hordaland Homocysteine Study, being male, smoking cigarettes, and being over 65 raises the risk both for high homocysteine and heart attack. Elevated heart rate and blood pressure also are associated with elevated homocysteine. It also appears that lack of exercise and high cholesterol levels are particularly risky for men and women in their 40s. People who have one or more of these risk factors should be tested for their homocysteine levels. Laboratory reference ranges are not definitive, but they can give an indication of risk on the high end. There was a 3.4 increased risk of heart attack in the Physicians' Health Study when homocysteine levels were greater than 15.8 µmol/mL. Normally, homocysteine is a short-lived product in the body. There is no known danger in having too little of it.

MORE READING ? AT: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag97/july97_cover2.html

What is Betaine? There is confusion about the terms TMG, betaine, and betaine HCL.