Homocysteine & your heart

Why do we check your homocysteine level?
Homocysteine is an amino acid produced as a byproduct of our body's normal metabolic processes. To break it down and remove it, our bodies rely on essential nutrients such as folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. A deficiency in any of these vitamins can lead to elevated homocysteine levels in the blood.¹
This is significant because high homocysteine levels can irritate blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease. Elevated homocysteine may also exacerbate high blood pressure and contribute to inflammation throughout the body,² further increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
To help maintain healthy homocysteine levels, it's important to consume foods rich in folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Make sure to get your yearly physical checkup with bloodwork to monitor your homocysteine levels and determine whether supplementation is necessary to protect your heart.

Foods that Contain Homocysteine-Lowering Vitamins
Folate: avocado, broccoli, eggs,  Leafy green vegetables
Vitamin B6: avocado, banana, chickpeas, spinach
Vitamin B12: salmon, tuna, eggs, Lean beef

By Caroline Berry, PA-S
UTHSCSA Graduating December 2025

SOURCES
1.Kumar A, Palfrey HA, Pathak R, Kadowitz PJ, Gettys TW, Murthy SN. The metabolism and significance of homocysteine in nutrition and health. Nutr Metab. 2017;14:78. doi:10.1186/s12986-017-0233-z
2. Ganguly P, Alam SF. Role of homocysteine in the development of cardiovascular disease. Nutr J. 2015;14:6. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-14-6