If your homocysteine level is too high, you may not have enough B vitamins to help this process. Replacing these vitamins helps return the homocysteine level to normal. Other possible causes of a high homocysteine level include low levels of thyroid hormone, kidney disease, psoriasis, some medicines, or inherited deficiencies in the enzymes used to process homocysteine in the body. Homocysteine is measured using a simple blood test. It can be measured at any time of the day.
Most hospital labs can measure homocysteine, or a blood sample can be sent out to a special lab.
While no studies have proved that lowering homocysteine levels ultimately helps reduce strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular events, it is a good idea to lower a high homocysteine level because it is a risk for heart disease. Good sources of folate include many breakfast cereals, lentils, chickpeas, asparagus, spinach and most beans. If adjusting your diet is not enough to lower your homocysteine, you will also need to take specific vitamins. Additional vitamin B 6 and vitamin B 12 also help the body process homocysteine. Vitamin B supplements generally have no side effects.