It is a biochemical reality, and biochemistry does not lie.
And from the creators of the film “Cholesterol is bad and needs to be lowered,” comes another similar version with a different protagonist in this new film, called “Homocysteine is bad and we need to lower it too.”
The title of this post has probably thrown you for a loop, given that for many years we've been constantly told that homocysteine is bad. As a result, a series of neural connections have been established in your brain so that every time you hear or read something about this topic, the first thing that comes to mind is: "homocysteine is bad." Well, I'm going to tell you something new, different, and something you probably haven't seen anywhere else: homocysteine is good and necessary for your health.
As an introduction, I would like to explain what homocysteine is:
What is homocysteine?
Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid synthesized as an intermediate product of methionine metabolism (an essential amino acid), with incredible and vital functions for the body (production of cysteine, taurine, carnitine, precursor of Same- methyl group donor, etc.), that is, it helps us to have our physical and mental health in the best possible state.
So, isn't it normal for a person with an illness or functional disorder to worsen? It's not only normal, it's absolutely necessary.
Just as cholesterol increases in these circumstances in order to produce hormones, vitamin D, and repair cells, homocysteine increases in certain situations, which I want you to know about:
When there is high oxidative stress and a high level of internal toxins, the demands for cysteine increase, since it is necessary to produce glutathione (antioxidant and detoxifier).
And where do you think cysteine comes from? From homocysteine, so it's normal for it to increase if there's greater demand.
Furthermore, when a person is in a deteriorated state of health, their methylation needs are increased, since these are involved in: cell repair, detoxification, hormonal regulation, inflammation, ATP production, lipid metabolism, as well as the regulation of the epigenetic expression of our DNA.
Just like the demonized cholesterol, homocysteine has been portrayed as the villain, when in reality it is a heroine, since it helps us at every moment of our existence to bring order to the metabolic and cellular level.
How can a sulfur-containing amino acid pose a health problem?
Currently, there are several theories as to why it may be high, and except for one of them, the others have no logical basis.
I'm going to explain what the possible causes of high homocysteine are, and even what the causes of low homocysteine can be, which curiously is never given attention, and this is much more worrying for health.
Causes of high homocysteine
- The first and most common in the vast majority of the population; Your body needs to increase its levels because your cells need the substances derived from it. (production of cysteine, taurine, carnitine, methylation, etc.).
As I have explained, this is the cause I have seen in more than 70% of the patients who have come to my office (just like cholesterol), and when their health problem has been solved, their levels have returned to normal (curious, isn't it?). -
Deficiency/insufficiency in vitamins B6, B9, B12, trimethylglycine .
There are some cases in which certain people have insufficient levels of these nutrients, and these are involved in metabolic pathways in which homocysteine is processed (both in its transsulfuration and remethylation processes) to produce new substances, so this deficiency can lead to that homocysteine being blocked without being able to go anywhere.
It is very important to know if you are in point 1 or point 2, first of all to put that high homocysteine into context, and second, to know if you have a deficiency or insufficiency of nutrients to provide them and normalize the values.
In 100% of current therapeutic approaches (even integrative ones), when a person is seen with high homocysteine levels, they are recommended a supplement with the aforementioned vitamins (B6, B9, B12), with the expectation that the levels will magically decrease. Many therapists are surprised when, after one or two months of recommending these vitamins, their patients' levels do not decrease, and they wonder... How can they still be high if I've provided those cofactors?
Well, there's a very simple biochemical explanation, which is the following:
My friend, your patient's body is demanding more homocysteine for its cellular and metabolic functions. Rejoice in this and stop worrying, and if their cholesterol is also high, celebrate twice over. Therefore, put aside the idea that homocysteine is bad, because it is necessary and vital.
When can homocysteine pose a problem?
Only in one situation (just like cholesterol), and that is when there is a high level of oxidative stress (excess of free radicals), since that circumstance is what disrupts its molecular conformation and can generate problems of all kinds.
If you want to check if it might represent a problem, get an LDL oxidation test (oxidation marker), and if it's normal, don't worry, regardless of the values.
And now comes the main part of the story: if homocysteine is high because the body needs those substances derived from it to detoxify, reduce oxidative stress, generate optimal methylation, produce ATP (energy), reduce adrenal stress, and decrease inflammation, what should we do to normalize it?
I'm going to make it easy for you;
Whatever you contribute or whatever therapeutic approach you take, make sure it is directed towards these points:
- Reduce the toxic load (heavy metals and toxic non-metals).
- Increase anti-aging potential to reduce oxidative stress.
- Increase energy efficiency at the cellular level (ATP production).
- Regulate the adrenal axis to maintain a phase 1 adrenal state.
- Contribute to good methylation.
Do you want to know about a product that provides all the substances and nutrients so that all these pillars described can be in their best state, while also providing the cofactors of those pathways I have explained to you previously (transsulfuration and remethylation) so that homocysteine is in its ideal range?
Here it is, Energy Pro Detox, a supplement I formulated with that very intention (to improve those important pillars of human health), and it not only helps to lower homocysteine levels when they are high, but it also helps to raise levels when they are low, something that (to this day) no one pays attention to.
ENERGY Pro Detox
The story of a revolutionary supplement that will change your life
As a brief summary about low homocysteine (because I would have to write another article about it), I will tell you the following:
As you may have noticed, homocysteine has incredible functions in the body (both physically and cognitively), so I've never understood why "nobody" pays attention to it today and looks for therapeutic strategies to raise these levels and improve their health, because just like low cholesterol, low homocysteine represents a serious problem for the person.
What can lead to low homocysteine production?
-
Poor liver function This can lead to low homocysteine production, since the MAT1A gene is located in that organ (responsible for the production and activity of the MAT enzyme (methionineadenosyltransferase), which is involved in the metabolic pathway of conversion of methionine to homocysteine).
Therefore, liver care (good phase I and phase II liver function) should be the top priority to normalize your values. - Low protein intake is a factor , since protein is the source of the amino acids the body needs to function properly, and one of them (methionine—an essential amino acid) is responsible for homocysteine production. Although I rarely see this, I have occasionally encountered people who consume very little protein daily, and this affects them in this regard (consuming 0.8g/kg of body weight to a maximum of 1.5 to 2g for athletes).
- Medications : These have the particularity of affecting countless metabolic pathways; unfortunately, we know very little about their effects, so we should avoid them as much as possible.
Although other causes exist, these are the three main ones you should consider. By addressing them intelligently with a therapeutic approach, everything can return to normal, whether homocysteine levels are high or low. As you can see, a single molecule can have a wide range of functions and effects in our bodies.
And how, just a single molecule It can be so vital to our lives…
That's why I believe no multinational pharmaceutical company has yet dared to create a drug that inhibits or blocks this metabolic pathway to homocysteine production, because they know the impact on health would be so significant that it would clearly demonstrate that its creation was solely for economic gain, not for the benefit of human health…
I bid you farewell, hoping you enjoyed this article, that you can reflect on everything you have read, and, above all, that you are open-minded enough to accept any new idea (however revolutionary it may seem), which can lead you down a new path that allows you to improve your health and quality of life.
Scientific Nutrition (orthomolecular), bringing scientific rigor to the field of medicine and integrative nutrition every day.