Bengaluru: High levels of Homocysteine, a common amino-acid in the blood, is linked to early development of heart disease. Surprisingly, the phenomenon, which is more common among men, is now afflicting women.
A data mining survey done by SRL Diagnostics, a diagnostic chain in India, recently released the results of a three-year long (2013-15) data search which revealed that in women, high homocysteine levels were more commonly seen at 46 years of age and above.
The increase in the levels of this amino acid or ‘Hyperhomocysteinemia’ leads to damage of the vascular inner lining, reduction in flexibility of arteries and alters the process of how blood clots. In women, high homocysteine levels were more frequent after 46, as mentioned earlier. Shockingly, it has been observed in various clinical studies that with each 5 µmol/L increase in the homocysteine level, the risk of CHD events is amplified by approximately 20%, independently of traditional CHD risk factors like cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking.
Dr Leena Chatterjee, Director, SRL Labs and Strategic Initiatives, said, "There is a significant need for reaching out to the masses and making people aware of how important it is to test for Homocysteine, especially in a setting where folate, Vit B6 and B12 deficiencies are common. Hyperhomocysteinemia accentuates the adverse effects of risk factors like hypertension, smoking, lipid disorders, and also promotes development of inflammation."
