Homocysteine HCY is an amino acid that is metabolized normally in the presence of B vitamins.

High values result from states of inability to metabolize it and are associated with intravascular inflammations and nerve tissue inflammations.

Homocysteine HCY is used as an indicator:

• Lack of vitamins of the B complex (B6, B9 Folic acid, B12) due to a nutritional disorder or due to malabsorption (stomach disorders)
• Cardiovascular risk index - thrombophilia due to a specific mutation in the MTHFR gene
• Indicator of more general inflammation in overweight people, smokers, etc.

Homocysteine can be included in a preventive check-up with the aim of a more detailed picture of cardiovascular risk and situations of nutritional disorders - malabsorption.

It is recommended to measure it in people with:

1. their individual experience or from their 1st and 2nd-degree relatives in cardiovascular events, for no apparent reason (strokes, heart attacks, embolisms)
2. 1st and 2nd-degree relatives with high homocysteine
3. signs of B vitamin deficiency (high red cell MCV, headaches, lack of concentration, neuritis, fatigue, cachexia)
4. digestive disorders (gastritis, ulcer, celiac disease, gastrointestinal operations, etc.)

For healthy adults, the following are indicative:

1. Men: 6.0-14.0 µg/dL
2. Women: 5.5 -13.0 µg/dL

Simple blood collection at any time of the day, without preparing food or avoiding medication

The results are given on the same day for blood draws until 12.00