Homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Increased levels in the blood are a common finding in those with cardiovascular disease and can be a warning of things to come in some. Homocysteine is a by-product of the pathway that produces methionine, if folic acid and Vitamin B12 are in short supply. A lesser-known pathway independent of folic acid and Vitamin B12, the Betaine pathway, has been the subject of recent research.
A recent study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated the relationship of plasma homocysteine to betaine. It also looked at the effects of folic acid supplementation on betaine concentrations in the blood.
The researchers found that plasma homocysteine is inversely related to betaine concentrations. Meaning that the higher the betaine the lower the homocysteine and vice versa. They also found that supplementation with folic acid (known to lower homocysteine) causes an increase in the amount of betaine available.
The authors concluded that betaine is a significant determinant of plasma homocysteine; due to the Betaine pathway that converts homocysteine to methionine. Also there must be some interplay between the folic acid dependent pathway and the betaine pathway because of the effect that folic acid supplementation had on betaine concentrations. More studies are needed to determine the implications that this new information has on the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
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