Related Experiment Videos
[Homocysteinemia and vascular disease--a new risk factor is born]
1Hospital Pulido Valente, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Insights
High homocysteine levels are a significant risk factor for early cardiovascular disease. Supplementation with vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid can help manage these levels.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Nutritional Science
Context:
- Growing evidence links elevated plasmatic homocysteine to premature cardiovascular disease.
- Atherosclerosis theories increasingly incorporate homocysteine's role.
- Understanding hyperhomocysteinemia is crucial for cardiovascular risk assessment.
Purpose:
- To review the multifaceted role of homocysteine in cardiovascular disease.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying hyperhomocysteinemia and vascular damage.
- To assess the efficacy of vitamin supplementation in managing homocysteine levels.
Summary:
- This review examines homocysteine metabolism, causes of elevated levels (hyperhomocysteinemia), and its pathophysiological impact on vascular lesions.
- It synthesizes clinical evidence establishing hyperhomocysteinemia as an independent cardiovascular risk factor.
- The review highlights the therapeutic potential of vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid supplementation.
Impact:
- Provides a comprehensive overview of homocysteine's contribution to cardiovascular pathology.
- Informs clinical practice regarding the assessment and management of hyperhomocysteinemia.
- Supports the use of specific vitamin co-factors for cardiovascular risk reduction.
Abstract:
In recent years there has been growing evidence that high levels of plasmatic homocysteine constitute an independent risk factor for early cardiovascular disease. In this article we review the main theories of atherosclerosis which take into account the proteins, namely homocysteine, homocysteine metabolism, the cause that may be responsible for high levels of homocysteinemia, the pathophysiologic mechanisms of vascular lesion induced by hyperhomocysteinemia, the clinical evidence that homocysteinemia constitutes a vascular risk factor and finally, the evidence that it is possible to control homocysteinemia with supplementation of co-factors of homocysteine metabolism, namely vitamin B6, B12 or folic acid.