Re: Baseline Test Results - what do you kids think? Homocysteine

[Guest guest]

Hi guys,

I read recently read in the " Better Brain Book " that you want your

homocysteine level to be 9 or below. The book, (which I think is very

helpful), is written by neurologist Perlmutter, MD. He allows

that some labs say that homocysteine is normal up to 11, but

recent studies show that is too high.

" The good news is that elevated homocysteine levels can easily be

lowered by taking the right combination of B vitamins. It's that

simple. "

This is good news, indeed, as the bad news is pretty bad:

" Elevated levels of homocysteine can shrink your brain, dull your

reflexes (especially those involving hand-to-eye coordination), and

lead to depression. It can also double your chances of developing

Alzheimer's disease. Simply put, in high amounts, homocysteine can

kill you. It becomes toxic to the endothelial cells that line your

arteries, and this promotes atherosclerosis, or hardening of the

arteries in your brain and heart. Excess homocysteine can enhance

free radical damage within the artery, which increases the formation

of plaque and triggers an inflammatory response by the immune system.

Too much homocysteine and/or too few B vitamins are associated with

increased risk of stroke, heart disease, depression, and even certain

types of cancer as has been documented in countless medical journal

articles. " p.178-179.

He explains further that homocysteine is an amino acid produced in

every cell of the body as part as the methylation cycle. Folic acid

and B12 break down homocysteine into methionine which is the building

block of SAM-e, which in turn helps to convert methionine into

beneficial glutathione.

I thought it was interesting that we get right back to glutathione.

As an aside, I'm finally doing better. I feel that regular

glutathione IV's are a big part of that. I do also take high dose B

vitamins, (specifically Enzymatic Therapy's " Fatigued to Fantastic! "

formula), along with methylcobalamin shots.

The other nice thing about the B vitamins is that they are relatively

inexpensive. Wouldn't it be great if more dotors would promote their

use?

Wishing us all well, (and a lower homocysteine level for Duramater!),

>

> Hey all you Bobs & Bettys:

>

> Just got some test results back and I'm curious what you all

think.

> I'm particularly taken aback by the homocysteine (and a little

> nervous given my cardiac and circulation problems). What do you

> know about these things (and the doc threw in the Vit D stuff on

his

> own!). I've not yet begun treatment for a severe recurrence of

Lyme

> disease (recently positive IgM Western blot, weakly positive

> Babesios (never tested for co-infections before)).

>

> Iron Stuff

> TIBC normal 337 (range: 152-496)

> Iron normal 100 (range: 40-150)

> % Fe Sat normal 30 (range: 15-50)

> Ferritin low 9 (10-220)

>

> Hey, do any of you smarties know the diff between all these iron

> measures? If 3/4 are normal and the 4th is barely out of range, do

> I really need to take iron? What do they differentially indicate?

>

> Homocysteine high 21.9 (range: <13.9)

> Cholesterol 112

> LDL 42

> HDL 60

> Triglycerides 48 (all lovely if I do say so myself)

>

> B12 normal 618 (range: 200-1100 pg/ml)

> folate normal 5.6 (range: >3.4)

> (these are what they are saying I should supplement with the high

> homocysteine, but how can that be the problem if these are normal?)

>

> 1,25 Vit D: normal 42 (range 15-60 pg/ml)

> 25 Vit D: low 12 (range 20-100 ng/ml)

> [take that MP boy! these are normal and LOW with no avoidance or

> supplementation; implications for Lyme as Th1???]

>

> Insulin-like growth factor 1: high 415 (range: 90-360 ng/ml)

> Anybody know what the heck this is???? And what does high mean?

> Should I be growing some islets of Langerhans for my diabetic

> friends or what?

>

> Anyway, would love some info about that homocysteine level from

> anyone.

[Guest guest]

Bless you, , that is just what your partner in crime needed

to be reminded of today. I am so damn stupeyfried, I can never

remember to get my homocysteine checked!

To me, it seems much more relevant that getting your B-12 tested -

if your homocysteine is too high, whatever your level of B-12 is, it

isn't doing the job, and you probably want to take more.

Ok...there is now a note on my fridge with huge block print: Get

homocysteine checked!

BTW, Jess, thanks much for the Better Brain book. It's pretty darn

rich, and written clearly enough that even those of us who really

NEED to read it can understand the main points.

Yay for that, and yay for you, my recovering friend! Praise the lord

and pass the Glutathione!

I want it. I want it in me. I want it in me now. I want my

Glutathione!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaah!

*Has fit, falls out of chair, hits head, regains his senses*

Er, um, I meant, " I will certainly make a point of speaking to my

LLMD about Glutathione, and not let her off the hook without

offering a plan for me to try it, when I speak to her on May 4. "

You are the bestest Bonnie a Clyde ever had, Jess.

> >

> > Hey all you Bobs & Bettys:

> >

> > Just got some test results back and I'm curious what you all

> think.

> > I'm particularly taken aback by the homocysteine (and a little

> > nervous given my cardiac and circulation problems). What do you

> > know about these things (and the doc threw in the Vit D stuff on

> his

> > own!). I've not yet begun treatment for a severe recurrence of

> Lyme

> > disease (recently positive IgM Western blot, weakly positive

> > Babesios (never tested for co-infections before)).

> >

> > Iron Stuff

> > TIBC normal 337 (range: 152-496)

> > Iron normal 100 (range: 40-150)

> > % Fe Sat normal 30 (range: 15-50)

> > Ferritin low 9 (10-220)

> >

> > Hey, do any of you smarties know the diff between all these iron

> > measures? If 3/4 are normal and the 4th is barely out of range,

do

> > I really need to take iron? What do they differentially

indicate?

> >

> > Homocysteine high 21.9 (range: <13.9)

> > Cholesterol 112

> > LDL 42

> > HDL 60

> > Triglycerides 48 (all lovely if I do say so myself)

> >

> > B12 normal 618 (range: 200-1100 pg/ml)

> > folate normal 5.6 (range: >3.4)

> > (these are what they are saying I should supplement with the

high

> > homocysteine, but how can that be the problem if these are

normal?)

> >

> > 1,25 Vit D: normal 42 (range 15-60 pg/ml)

> > 25 Vit D: low 12 (range 20-100 ng/ml)

> > [take that MP boy! these are normal and LOW with no avoidance

or

> > supplementation; implications for Lyme as Th1???]

> >

> > Insulin-like growth factor 1: high 415 (range: 90-360 ng/ml)

> > Anybody know what the heck this is???? And what does high

mean?

> > Should I be growing some islets of Langerhans for my diabetic

> > friends or what?

> >

> > Anyway, would love some info about that homocysteine level from

> > anyone.

[Guest guest]

Homocysteine can be lowered in weeks (or less) using SAM-e

along with a few b-vitamins. Maybe extra b-12. But whenever I've

been able to afford it, SAM-e helps me feel so much better...

d.

p.s. Your cholesterol seemed awfully low. Perhaps -- and I

emphasize " perhaps " -- the homocysteine is high to make up for

the low cholesterol levels? Just my two cents...

d.

> > >

> > > Hey all you Bobs & Bettys:

> > >

> > > Just got some test results back and I'm curious what you

all

> > think.

> > > I'm particularly taken aback by the homocysteine (and a

little

> > > nervous given my cardiac and circulation problems). What

do you

> > > know about these things (and the doc threw in the Vit D

stuff on

> > his

> > > own!). I've not yet begun treatment for a severe recurrence

of

> > Lyme

> > > disease (recently positive IgM Western blot, weakly positive

> > > Babesios (never tested for co-infections before)).

> > >

> > > Iron Stuff

> > > TIBC normal 337 (range: 152-496)

> > > Iron normal 100 (range: 40-150)

> > > % Fe Sat normal 30 (range: 15-50)

> > > Ferritin low 9 (10-220)

> > >

> > > Hey, do any of you smarties know the diff between all these

iron

> > > measures? If 3/4 are normal and the 4th is barely out of

range,

> do

> > > I really need to take iron? What do they differentially

> indicate?

> > >

> > > Homocysteine high 21.9 (range: <13.9)

> > > Cholesterol 112

> > > LDL 42

> > > HDL 60

> > > Triglycerides 48 (all lovely if I do say so myself)

> > >

> > > B12 normal 618 (range: 200-1100 pg/ml)

> > > folate normal 5.6 (range: >3.4)

> > > (these are what they are saying I should supplement with

the

> high

> > > homocysteine, but how can that be the problem if these are

> normal?)

> > >

> > > 1,25 Vit D: normal 42 (range 15-60 pg/ml)

> > > 25 Vit D: low 12 (range 20-100 ng/ml)

> > > [take that MP boy! these are normal and LOW with no

avoidance

> or

> > > supplementation; implications for Lyme as Th1???]

> > >

> > > Insulin-like growth factor 1: high 415 (range: 90-360 ng/ml)

> > > Anybody know what the heck this is???? And what does

high

> mean?

> > > Should I be growing some islets of Langerhans for my

diabetic

> > > friends or what?

> > >

> > > Anyway, would love some info about that homocysteine

level from

> > > anyone.