> August 14, 2003
> NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS
> "Nutrition news is important.  We help you understand it!"
>
> Today's Topic: Homocysteine Primer

related extract from  this article http://www.ever.ch/b12hg.htm mercury and
b12

If the conversion of homocysteine to methionine (and SAM) does not work
properly, homocysteine will accumulate in the cell from where it diffuses
into blood. A methylcobalamin deficiency therefore induces a
hyperhomocysteinemia. The homocysteine level is thus a marker of the methyl
B12 status - but also for the folate status as there is such a close
interaction between folate and methyl B12
...
In interpreting your homocysteine levels you should bear in mind that the
reference levels for homocysteine are based on values from a general
population - not necessarily a healthy general population and the upper
reference limit is therefore often rather high.

lt is shown that hyperhomocysteinemia is risk factor for cardiovascular
disease and that the risk is concentration dependent and begins at 10-11
mmol/l! Homocoysteine may also be cytotoxic - thus carcinogen - and
embryotoxic.

jean-claude