Therefore, homocysteine can be referred to as a functional parameter of the vitamin nutritional status of the respective B-vitamins. Effectiveness of vitamins to lower homocysteine levels By supplementing the vitamins involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, the blood level of this atherogenic amino acid can be lowered. Ongoing supplementation did not lead to a further reduction. Vitamin B-6 alone does not seem to have a lowering effect 10,15 . However, in the respective study as much as 400 g vitamin B-12 was given, which is about 133 times the daily requirement for healthy adults.
Folic acid seems to play the key role in lowering homocysteine.
Response of homocysteine blood levels to different vitamin supplements in men with elevated homocysteine levels. Therefore, folic acid acts as limiting factor for this reaction and the absence of the methyl donor cannot be compensated by vitamin B-12. This increase in the remethylation rate seems sufficient to prevent an accumulation of homocysteine in the body 17 . So far it is known that nutritive amounts of folic acid are able to lower homocysteine levels in young women. We assume that nutritive amounts are still sufficient to effectively lower these levels and are currently investigating this topic.