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Homocysteine causes Heart Attacks and Birth Defects
By
Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
More than 10 percent of all heart attacks and most cases of a
birth defect called spina bifida are caused by a buildup of a
chemical called homocysteine.
Proteins in your body are made up of 21 building blocks called
amino acids. Of the 21, 9 are essential and must come from the
food you eat, while the other 12 are non- essential because your
body can manufacture them from the essential nine. The non-
essential amino acid, cysteine, must be made from the essential
amino acid, methionine. The chemical reaction causes methionine
to be converted to homocysteine, and then to cysteine. However,
your body cannot convert homocysteine to cysteine unless you
have enough available vitamins, pyridoxine, B12 and folic acid.
A deficiency of any one of these three vitamins blocks the
breakdown of homocysteine and causes large amounts to accumulate
in your bloodstream. Homocysteine causes heart attacks by
punching holes in arteries, starting plaque formation and then
causing clots to form in the plaques. Lack of folic acid is more
likely than B12 or pyridoxine to be the cause of heart attacks.
Spina bifida means that the spinal bones do not close completely
around the spinal nerves, causing babies to be born with nerve
damage that can interfere with control of their legs, bladder
and intestines. These babies are often born to mothers who have
a genetic defect in which they require more folic acid than
normal.
Anyone with low levels of folic acid increases his or her
chances of having a heart attack. Low levels of folic acid are
caused by not eating enough leafy green vegetables such as
spinach, lettuce or turnip greens, and fruits and vegetables
such as asparagus, beets, beans and citrus fruits. Even small
elevations of blood levels of homocysteine are associated with
increased risk for heart attacks. 21 percent of North Americans
over 60 have high blood levels of homocysteine and these people
are three times more likely to suffer heart attacks.
Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and
practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board
certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read
or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at
http://www.DrMirkin.com
For journal references on this article see report #7222.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabe_Mirkin,_M.D.
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