What is homocysteine?
May 17, 2009
Homocysteine has been identified as an independent risk factor for heart disease (along with cholesterol, c-reactive protein, age, gender, smoking, weight, and heredity). It is an amino acid found in the blood and evidence from research suggests that it damages the inner lining of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. It also is a powerful oxidant and very likely contributes to the oxidation of LDL (”bad”) cholesterol which leads to plaque build up and increases the liklihood of blocked arteries.
Vitamin supplements such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Folic acid, have been shown to reduce elevated levels of homocysteine in about 75% of people. For the remaining 25%, supplements such as Vitamin B2 and Trimethylglycene (TMG or betaine), in addition to the above, have demonstrated homocysteine lowering properties. In 1999, I published a research paper in Nutrition Research entitled: “Do Megadoses of Vitamin C Interfere with Folic Acid’s Role in the Metabolism of Plasma Homocysteine?” (Nutrition Research, Vol. 19, No. 2, Feb. 1999) which suggested that Vitamin C supplements in excess of 500 mg per day may interfere with Folic Acid’s ability to lower homocysteine levels.
This is health information that you can use and, as always, have a naturally healthy day!
Dr. Joe Mix
NaturalHealthMix.com
What does PSA mean?
May 3, 2009
PSA stands for “prostate-specific antigen” which is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood and is used as a screening test to check for the presence of disease in the prostate gland, specifically prostate cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the PSA test along with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to help detect prostate cancer in men age 50 and older. Several risk factors increase a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer. These factors include:
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Age (65% of prostate cancer cases occur in men 65 and over)
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Family history
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Race (African American men have the highest rate; Asian men have the lowest)
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Diet (diets high in saturated fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer)
The test results are usually reported in nanograms of PSA per milliliter (ng/ml) of blood. In the past, most doctors considered PSA values below 4.0 as normal, however, recent research has found prostate cancer in men with PSA levels below 4.0. There is no specific normal or abnormal PSA level. The higher a man’s PSA level, the more likely it is that cancer is present. If no other symptoms suggest cancer, the doctor may recommend repeating the DRE and PSA tests regularly to watch for any changes. If a man’s PSA levels have been increasing or if a suspicious lump is detected during the DRE, the doctor may recommend other tests (urine, ultrasound, biopsy) to determine if there is cancer or another problem in the prostate.