| Homocysteine levels are considered to be a dietary risk factor. It is a substance produced by the body from the amino acid methionine and is required for its further degradation to cysteine or for its reconstruction to methionine, the vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid . In hyperhomocysteinemia, these mechanisms of degradation and remodelling are disturbed and homocysteine accumulates in the plasma. Especially vitamin B12 deficiencies lead to folic acid deficits, which are considered to be the most frequent cause for an increased homocysteine level. |
