Homocysteine News and Research

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$Vitamin B12 after stroke reduces risk of hip fracture$

Vitamin B12 after stroke reduces risk of hip fracture

Patients who took folic acid and vitamin B12 after their stroke had a reduced risk of hip fracture compared to patients who took placebo, according to an article in the March 2 issue of JAMA.

1 Mar 2005

High levels of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood, may indicate an increased risk of stroke

Observational studies measuring homocysteine concentrations in healthy individuals have found that, on average, those with high levels of homocysteine in their blood are more likely to have a stroke. But other factors that increase homocysteine concentration and stroke risk— such as smoking and socioeconomic class—may be responsible for the relationship observed in these studies, confounding the result.

13 Jan 2005

A vitamin B pill that drastically lowers blood levels of homocysteine could one day be used to prevent dementia

High blood levels of homocysteine are a risk factor for stroke and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Raised levels damage nerves and blood vessels, and lead to a loss of brain tissue in patients.

4 Dec 2004

Low dietary intake of folate may be a risk factor for severe depression

Two studies published in the 2004 November- December issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics suggest that dietary B vitamin complex has an important role as to the vulnerability to depression.

18 Nov 2004

Patent issued for nanotechnology bone biomaterial

Competitive Technologies announced today that patent number 6,808,561 has been issued by the US Patent Office for Dr. Brian R. Genge's nanotechnology bone biomaterial developed at the University of South Carolina (USC).

1 Nov 2004

Folate can help women reduce their risk of developing high blood pressure

Young women who consume more than 800 micrograms (ug) of folate per day can reduce their risk of developing high blood pressure by almost a third compared to those who consume less than 200 ug/day, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association's 58th Annual High Blood Pressure Research Conference.

11 Oct 2004

Studies confirm that chronic kidney disease independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease

A pair of new epidemiology studies confirms that chronic kidney disease independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, even among people with early kidney disease and after considering other risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

29 Sep 2004

Higher blood levels of homocysteine may be associated with changes in deep brain tissue in middle-aged men

According to the article, high HCY levels have been associated with an increased risk for vascular diseases, and some studies have suggested that HCY may also increase the risk for brain atrophy and Alzheimer disease. Other studies have shown an inverse relationship between elevated HCY levels and cognitive functioning, the article states.

12 Sep 2004

Mediterranean diet lowers levels of markers for inflammation and coagulation which have been linked to heart disease

“The benefits of this diet are very well known, but the mechanism is not well understood. We believe this is the first time it has been reported that the potential mechanism goes through the inflammation process,” said Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, MSc, PhD with Harokopio University in Athens, Greece.

7 Jul 2004

Elevated homocysteine levels have been associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease

Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) who also have high levels of homocysteine (an amino acid produced by the body) are more likely to be depressed compared with other patients with PD who have normal levels of homocysteine

21 Jun 2004

Possible therapeutic approach to lowering LDL cholesterol and homocysteine levels

Canadian scientists report that mice genetically altered so as to lack either of the two different pathways through which humans, mice, and other animals provide lipids for high density and low density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL) did not appear to suffer any ill effects. But animals from both groups had markedly lower levels of cholesterol in their blood stream.

14 Jun 2004

New series of clinical standards to diagnose heart attacks

Diagnosing heart attacks will become a more precise science thanks to the first of a new series of clinical standards just issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2921 (human cardiac troponin complex) will help manufacturers develop and calibrate assays that measure specific protein concentrations in patient blood samples to determine whether a heart attack has occurred.

24 May 2004

A genetic variant (MTHFR C677T) puts half the population at increased risk of neural tube defects

Researchers in Ireland and the United States identified the genetic make-up (genotype) of 395 individuals born with neural tube defects (spina bifida or encephalocele) and 848 controls.

20 May 2004

Black women with high blood pressure during pregnancy have higher homocysteine levels

Black women with pregnancy-induced high blood pressure have more homocysteine (an amino acid linked with atherosclerosis) and less folic acid in their blood than white women.

19 Apr 2004

Researchers find new purpose for existing drugs to suppress colon cancer metastasis, secure post-radiation brain function, and trick tumors

Drugs approved for treatment of specific maladies sometimes show unexpected benefits. Researchers at the 95th annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research demonstrated highlighted how some drugs may one day offer previously unforeseen benefits for patients.

30 Mar 2004

A simple dietary supplement may also help to prevent strokes

A simple dietary supplement may not only give relief to some of the more than 400,000 New Zealanders that suffer from the pain of migraine headaches, but may also help to prevent strokes.

28 Mar 2004