It’s easier for those who live in the big city. Because there are large laboratories that determine the homocysteine value almost around the corner. That’s a good thing, because the amino acid needs short transport routes, otherwise it would chemically decompose. In the countryside or in smaller towns, this quickly becomes a problem. It is therefore essential to ask your doctor where to send the sample before taking the blood. “It is also important that the blood plasma is separated from the blood clot by centrifugation immediately after collection or that it is optimally stabilized before sending. If this doesn’t happen or doesn’t happen properly, the values will be incorrect,” warns homocysteine expert Prof. Wolfgang Herrmann from the Saarland University Hospital. The check also produces incorrect results if something has been eaten in the last twelve hours before the blood sample was taken. Medicines such as B. blood fat lowering drugs, antiestrogens, antiepileptic drugs, menopausal hormones or the asthma drug theophylline can massively falsify the values. If the values are slightly elevated, a second blood sample should be taken after four to six weeks to check the result. Such a test costs about 38 euros. Because it is an IGEL service, i.e. not a standard medical examination, the health insurance companies do not pay.
Below 8 μmol/l Optimal! No increased risk due to high homocysteine levels
9 to 14 μmol/l The finding is borderline. Slight harmful effects, such as on blood clotting, are already possible. A slightly increased risk of illness cannot be completely ruled out
15 to 17 μmol/l The homocysteine level is so high that it has negative effects on the blood vessels. It can e.g. B. lead to vasoconstriction in the carotid or carotid artery. A treatment would be useful
18 to 19 μmol/l The probability of developing a heart attack, stroke or Alzheimer’s in the next 10 to 30 years is increased by 50 percent. The risk of osteoporosis or eye diseases also increases
More than 20 μmol/l There is an extremely heavy burden on the body that can lead to unforeseeable health hazards. The homocysteine level should be lowered as quickly as possible
