Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors - Part II
Homocysteine - Summary
Homocysteine is not a highly discriminating indicator of CHD risk, excepting exceptionally high levels that pose a high risk. People with the highest level of homocysteine have no more than double the CHD risk, compared to people with the lowest levels. Reducing levels using vitamin B therapy does not seem to impact the risk of CHD: one might compare this to taking an aspirin when one has influenza - reducing fever does not get rid of the illness...
There is a borderline statistically significant improvement in the restenting rate that is associated with lowered homocysteine levels as a result of vitamin B therapy. This is the only tangible benefit that has been measured to date! The current approach of the medical community is not to test for homocysteine unless there is some special requirement.
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