Homocysteine

What To Think About

• A urine test may be done to help detect and monitor homocystinuria. But a blood test is more accurate.
• Homocysteine testing may be most valuable in evaluating the overall risk of heart disease for people who have a strong personal or family history of heart disease but who do not have other risk factors that can be controlled, such as smoking or high blood pressure.
• It is unclear whether elevated homocysteine levels alone increase your risk of heart disease. Your overall risk factors for heart disease must be evaluated along with your homocysteine levels. The relationship between homocysteine and cardiovascular disease is being studied in clinical trials.
• Vitamin B and folic acid supplements, which can lower homocysteine levels, do not lower the risk of a heart attack or stroke.¹ Most doctors recommend that you get B vitamins from a balanced diet, and they do not advise that you take vitamin B supplements.
• For more information on folic acid and vitamin B12, see the medical tests Folic Acid and Vitamin B12.

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: February 13, 2009
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology
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