You are here: Q&A->
Page 34->High cholesterol and homocysteine
High cholesterol and homocysteine
I am taking an antioxidant complex which includes 50mg of L-Cysteine, which I understood is formed from a substance called homocysteine. Recently, I read that homocysteine can cause higher cholesterol levels - so I am now worried I may be putting my health more at risk by taking this supplement? Can you advise?
Homocysteine is an amino acid and a natural by-product of the breakdown of protein in the body. It does not affect cholesterol levels. However, high levels of homocysteine are now believed by some researchers to be a more accurate indicator of a future risk of heart disease than cholesterol, which may explain the confusion.
In good health, the body detoxifies homocysteine by converting it back to methionine, from which it was produced in the first place, or by breaking it down even further to form a more harmless substance called cystathionine. Factors that can interfere with this process include either a genetic fault in one of the enzymes responsible for this chemical breakdown, or a deficiency in any one of the nutrients needed to activate these enzymes in the first place.
What is known for sure is that several of the B vitamins, including folic acid, can lower levels of homocysteine. In fact, the important vitamins to take if you have high homocysteine are B6 and B12, both of which act as cofactors for the enzymes that keep levels low.
Since you are essentially looking for good antioxidant protection, I would switch to Country Life's Homocysteine Shield supplement, which contains vitamins B6 & B12, Folic acid, choline to protect the brain and betaine to help convert homocysteine back to methionine. It also provides a therapeutic dose of the heart-protecting antioxidant, selenium, plus zinc (which helps decrease cholesterol deposits).