At the end of the 20th century, it was revealed that having high homocysteine in the blood was related to different pathologies, such as atherosclerosis or Alzheimer’s. However, information about this topic has long been controversial.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that is synthesized in the body. It comes from another called methionine . We obtain methionine through food, generally of animal origin. The elevation of the compound can have different causes. The most common is that it appears due to deficiencies of certain vitamins.
What is homocysteine?
Homocysteine is an amino acid. Amino acids are molecules that make up proteins. It is synthesized from methionine, which is another amino acid that we usually obtain from the diet.
Homocysteine is a substance that attacks blood vessels. That is why its elevation causes the lining of the arteries to be altered. When this happens, the blood tends to clot more easily in these vessels. This process can lead to the formation of thrombi.
Hence, over the years, having high homocysteine has been related to different pathologies. For example, with atherosclerosis. This is a disease that consists of the formation of cholesterol and fat plaques on the walls of the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is considered the main cause of heart attacks, as it can alter the flow of the coronary arteries. But, in reality, it affects any blood vessel in the body. Hence, it is also a cause of cerebrovascular accidents or peripheral ischemia.
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