Homocysteine

Homocysteine is an amino acid that is produced by the body.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

Homocysteine cannot be obtained directly from any foods.

Foods containing methionine are transformed into homocysteine in the bloodstream.

The body them converts the homocysteine to cysteine.

The body uses vitamin B6 to facilliate the reaction of homocysteine to cysteine.

Homocysteine can be converted back to methionine using vitamin B12 related enzymes

Cysteine is a important amino aicd and is involved in:

                                                                                               1. The way proteins are folded

                                                                                               2. Maintains the shape of proteins

                                                                                               3. How proteins link to each other

                                                                                               4.  A Source of sulfide

                                                                                               5.  Anti oxidations

Elevated levels of homocysteine levesl have been associated with heart attack, stroke, blood clot formation and Alzheimers Disease.

Plasma concentrations of homocsyteine vary but intracellular concentrations of homocysteine are normally maintained within a very narrow range.


References

1. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2004/181/6/clinical-usefulness-plasma-homocysteine-vascular-disease