Is high homocysteine bad for my heart?
High homocysteine is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, but whether it is the cause is not certain. Have your levels checked by your doctor and discuss whether dietary changes or supplementation make sense for you.
Higher blood homocysteine levels are associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. For every additional 5 micromol/L rise, the risk of ischaemic heart disease is roughly 1.4 times higher. This association has been observed for heart attacks, strokes, and problems with the blood vessels in the legs. In a small group of men under 55 who suffered a heart attack without the classic risk factors, nearly a quarter had elevated homocysteine.
Nevertheless, high homocysteine is probably not a direct cause, but rather a signal. Genetic studies and animal experiments yielded conflicting results. Homocysteine can also rise as a consequence of vascular damage or unhealthy lifestyle habits, rather than causing them. It is therefore currently better regarded as a risk marker than as a proven culprit.
Folic acid, whether or not combined with vitamin B12 and B6, effectively lowers homocysteine. A daily dose of 0.5 mg of folic acid can reduce levels by around 25%. However, whether that reduction actually leads to fewer heart attacks or strokes had not yet been established in the available research. Large studies were under way at that time, but the results were not yet available.
If you have elevated homocysteine, that is a reason to discuss with your doctor whether supplementation makes sense and whether other cardiovascular risk factors have been properly assessed. Do not start taking supplements independently on the basis of a single number, as the link with real health benefit has not been proven.
This answer is based on several reviews from the early 2000s, plus one small study (21 men). The association between high homocysteine and cardiovascular disease is widely documented, but all studies involved measure association without being able to prove cause and effect. The researchers themselves emphasised that causal evidence was lacking and that large randomised trials were still ongoing. The evidence on B-vitamin supplementation as a protective measure was insufficient at that time; later research (not included in these sources) is needed for a complete picture.
Are calcium supplements bad for your heart?
Calcium supplements may be associated with an increased heart risk, but not all studies confirm this. It is best to get calcium from your diet, and discuss with your doctor whether a supplement is truly necessary for you.
Does unhealthy gums affect my heart?
People with serious gum disease show clearly higher risks of heart attack, stroke and premature death in large-scale research. Whether that association is causal is not yet certain, but keeping your gums healthy is worthwhile regardless.
Is a calcium score of my heart worth doing?
For people between 40 and 75 years old in a grey zone regarding statins, a calcium score is a well-supported tool for making a well-considered decision about medication together with your doctor.
How harmful is prolonged stress really for my heart?
Prolonged stress measurably increases your risk of heart and vascular disease, particularly through work-related stress (10–40% extra risk in large population studies). The effect is real, but smaller than that of smoking or high blood pressure.
Is coffee good or bad for your heart?
For most healthy adults, three to four filtered cups per day is associated with a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels. Pregnant women are an important exception: for them, the maximum is around two cups per day.
What does my CRP value (inflammation) say about my heart?
A high hsCRP value points to chronic inflammation and predicts a clearly elevated long-term risk of cardiovascular problems, even more strongly than well-known cholesterol values. It is an independent risk factor that deserves serious attention.