Lowering Homocysteine Reduces DVT, Stroke, Heart Attack

Another study on homocysteine concludes that lowering of homocysteine concentrations by 3 mmol/l would reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease by 16%, deep vein thrombosis by 25%, and stroke by 24%. The study was published in the November 23, 2002, issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 72 studies on genetic elevation of homocysteine and 20 prospective studies of serum hemocysteine and disease risk to come to this conclusion. Lowering homocysteine concentrations by 3 mmol/l is achievable by simply increasing folic acid intake, they say. "Our results strengthen the evidence that a raised serum homocysteine concentration is a cause of cardiovascular disease.” The study was conducted by Dr. David Wald and colleagues of St. Bartholomew's Hospital (London, UK) and Southamptom General Hospital (UK).

"This new data, when coupled with evidence of homocysteine involvement in Alzheimer's disease, bodes well for the future demand for our patented homocysteine test technologies,” noted Svein Lien, CEO of Axis-Shield plc (Dundee, UK).