Homocysteine, an amino acid crucial for cellular metabolism and protein synthesis, is naturally produced by the body. However, either too low or too high levels in the body can lead to significant health issues.
Insufficient homocysteine levels impair the production of glutathione, a vital substance for detoxifying the liver and the entire body. In some cases, patients are given glutathione infusions for its additional benefits.
Having too much homocysteine is also a problem. High homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and migraine with aura. High homocysteine levels may also mean you have a vitamin deficiency. Vitamins B12, B6 and folate break down homocysteine to create other chemicals your body needs. Replacing these vitamins often helps return the homocysteine level to normal.
Some drugs may lead to increased homocysteine levels. These include cholestyramine, metformin, methotrexate, nicotinic acid (niacin), and fibric acid derivatives (drugs that are used to lower lipids).
Besides migraine with aura, other symptoms of high homocysteine and low vitamin B12 levels may include memory difficulties, weakness, fatigue, tingling sensations in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, dizziness, mouth sores, and mood changes.
White matter lesions seen on the MRI scans of migraine patients are more common in those with high homocysteine levels. High homocysteine levels may be responsible for the increased risk of strokes in migraine patients.
The good news is that taking vitamins B12, folate, and B6 (pyridoxine) can lower homocysteine levels. Methylated forms of vitamin B12 and folate, methylcobalamin and methylfolate are better absorbed than cyanocobalamin or folic acid.
If you suffer from migraines, especially migraine auras (with or without headaches) you may want to have your homocysteine levels checked. In all of our migraine patients, we also check vitamin B12, folate, RBC magnesium, vitamin D, TSH (thyroid), and routine tests – CBC and CMP.
