Homocysteine is an amino acid that may increase the risk of heart disease, according to HeartHealthyWomen.org, a website associated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Several studies have linked homocysteine to blood pressure, but more research is needed before it will be known whether elevated homocysteine levels increase the risk of high blood pressure.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure measures the amount of force exerted on arteries as blood is pumped through your body by your heart. If the force of the blood flow is too high, your arteries can get stretched beyond their normal limits, creating a number of health problems, according to the American Heart Association, or the AHA. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and other health problems. High blood pressure typically has no symptoms, but it can have deadly consequences, warns the AHA.
Homocysteine
The AHA reports too much homocysteine in the blood is related to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and peripherial artery disease, or blood clots in the legs or arms. There’s some evidence that elevated levels of homocysteine may promote hardening of the arteries, known as atherosclerosis, which can increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Folic acid and other B vitamins help break down homocycsteine, according to the AHA. A blood test can screen for elevated levels of homocysteine.
Research
While several studies have found associations between ele vated homocysteine levels and blood pressure, the research connecting them is far from conclusive. Moreover, a 2003 study of 2,100 people, known as the Farmington Heart Study, compared incidences of high blood pressure with elevated homosteine levels and found no major connection between the two. Still, a study in the journal “Current Hypertension Reports” noted that homosteine-lowering treatments involving folic acid have been followed by lower blood pressure, raising the possibility that there’s a connection between homocysteine and blood pressure.
Considerations
Even though more research is needed to confirm the link between homocysteine and blood pressure, it’s wise to keep both in a healthy range to reduce your risk of heart disease. The AHA has not yet called high homocysteine a major risk for heart disease, but it recommends people at risk for heart disease eat plenty of fruits and green leafy vegetables to get enough folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12. These three nutrients have been linked to healthy homocysteine levels. Stress management, limiting caffeine and alcohol, quitting smoking and following the DASH diet may also help to lower your homocycetine levels, reports HeartHealthyWomen.org. These lifestyle changes can also help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.
References
- HeartHealthyWomen.org: Homocysteine
- American Heart Association: Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Cardiovasular Disease
- "Current Hypertension Reports;" Homocysteine and Blood Pressure; Coen van Guldener, et al.; 2007
- "Hypertension;" Plasma Homocysteine, Hypertension Incidence, and Blood Pressure; J. Sundstrom, et al.2003
- American Heart Association: About High Blood Pressure
