How to lower homocysteine
If you’re learning how to decrease homocysteine, the first step is to understand why your homocysteine is high.
Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid that can cause serious harm to your cardiovascular system if too high. The most common cause is a deficiency in the B vitamins folate, B12, and/or B6. These nutrients are essential for the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, but if they are low, this process won’t happen as effectively as it should. 1
For many people, a major cause of low folate levels is the MTHFR genetic mutation. One of the pathways used to convert homocysteine to methionine involves using methylfolate (vitamin B9), along with vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin). Studies show that people with an MTHFR genetic mutation are at increased risk of high homocysteine as they cannot process folate properly.2 If you have been diagnosed with high homocysteine, your health professional may suggest you get tested for MTHFR.
The other pathway is the “transsulfuration pathway”, in which homocysteine is converted to another amino acid, cysteine. This pathway requires an enzyme called cystathionine beta-lyase, which is dependent on the availability of vitamin B6. 3
