There's an amino acid you've probably never heard of. One that prevents aging and staves off disease ... but only if it's working properly in your body. At optimal levels homocysteine works in your favor but at elevated levels, it can lead to the development of debilitating disease. The condition is called hyperhomocysteinemia, and it might be responsible for the strange symptoms you live with everyday.
What is Homocysteine?
Homocysteine is an amino acid that converts into two vitally important compounds; SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine) and glutathione. SAMe increases the availability of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are essential in the prevention of irritability, aggressive behavior, and depression. Low levels of these neurotransmitters increases risk of both suicidal and homicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Glutathione is an antioxidant that helps eradicate unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals. The antioxidant protection glutathione offers includes cancer prevention, immune system stabilization, anti-aging, cognitive repair, and mental health support. Low glutathione levels play a major role in the development of bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, addictive behaviors, and schizophrenia. So we need homocysteine to be able to convert into both SAMe and glutathione (GSH), and therefore maintain low levels of homocysteine (which is good-use it up.) But it cannot do this effectively without the correct nutrients, and will continue to accumulate in body tissues (which is bad).
Health Risks of Hyperhomocysteinemia
Chronic Autoimmune Dysfunction
If you're suffering from any kind of autoimmune condition, it could be due to elevated homocysteine levels in your blood. Excessive homocysteine levels deplete your glutathione levels so severely your body no longer has the antioxidant protection it needs. Without this protection, you're susceptible to the development of a wide variety of infections. Over time, your immune system weakens as it struggles to protect you without necessary support.
High homocysteine levels also cause chronic inflammation and pain by increasing arachidonic acid and the pro-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Chronic inflammation increases your risk for obesity and the development of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, autoimmune disease, digestive dysfunction, and mental health disorders.
Cardiovascular Disease
Hyperhomocysteinemia greatly increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. It destroys the lining of your arterial walls, which promotes the formation of blood clots and causes the build-up of scar tissue. This is especially true if you have other heart disease risk factors such as smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, or family history.
Dementia
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, abnormally high levels of homocysteine nearly doubles your rish for dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Low glutathione levels mean chronic brain inflammation, which directly contributes to cognitive decline.
Depression
Hyperhomocysteinemia leads to depleted levels of SAMe, which causes a critical drop in dopamine and serotonin. Without these neurotransmitters, severe depression as well as other mood disorders can result. Those feelings of hopelessness, doom, and generalized disinterest in life could simply be a matter of decreasing your homocysteine levels to balance your mental health.
Causes of High Homocysteine Levels
Hyperhomocysteinemia is caused by a combination of factors. These factors include:
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