Does coffee raise homocysteine levels? (heart, diet, exercise, B12)

[movintime]

I saw this elsewhere & wondered if this is so? If so I need to cutback, as I've increased to 2-3 cups/day after not drinking it for yrs.

My recent homocysteine level back in April was about 9. It is higher than I'd like but very fine & normal says doc.

[suzy_q2010]

Originally Posted by movintime

I saw this elsewhere & wondered if this is so? If so I need to cutback, as I've increased to 2-3 cups/day after not drinking it for yrs.

My recent homocysteine level back in April was about 9. It is higher than I'd like but very fine & normal says doc.

Yes, coffee can raise homocysteine levels:: Heavy coffee consumption and plasma homocysteine: a randomized controlled trial in healthy volunteers -- Urgert et al. 72 (5): 1107 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

How about black tea: Can black tea influence plasma total homocysteine concentrations? -- Hodgson et al. 77 (4): 907 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Acute effects of tea on fasting and non-fasting pl... [Br J Nutr. 2007] - PubMed result

The possible culprit: Compounds In Coffee Identified To Raise Homocysteine Concentrations - Brief Article | Nutrition Research Newsletter | Find Articles at BNET

No one knows whether the effects are clinically significant, though.

It is a good idea to eat your green, leafy vegetables and aim for 400 micrograms of folic acid a day: Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Cardiovascular Disease

[movintime]

Originally Posted by suzy_q2010

Yes, coffee can raise homocysteine levels:: Heavy coffee consumption and plasma homocysteine: a randomized controlled trial in healthy volunteers -- Urgert et al. 72 (5): 1107 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

How about black tea: Can black tea influence plasma total homocysteine concentrations? -- Hodgson et al. 77 (4): 907 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Acute effects of tea on fasting and non-fasting pl... [Br J Nutr. 2007] - PubMed result

The possible culprit: Compounds In Coffee Identified To Raise Homocysteine Concentrations - Brief Article | Nutrition Research Newsletter | Find Articles at BNET

No one knows whether the effects are clinically significant, though.

It is a good idea to eat your green, leafy vegetables and aim for 400 micrograms of folic acid a day: Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Cardiovascular Disease

Thanks SQ. Ironically I have a good friend from way back hi sch. days that lives in Atlanta metro (Woodstock, I think). Haven't spoken w/ him in yrs tho. His name is Mike, & wife is Sue (we called her Suzie Q, SQ, etc. growing up). lol

I think of her everytime I see you reply now.

[movintime]

Anyone know how to reduce homocysteine? I had a 9.2 level in March & will retest soon. I see optimal is 6 - 8, so I'm a bit too high for my liking.

[stepka]

Originally Posted by movintime

Anyone know how to reduce homocysteine? I had a 9.2 level in March & will retest soon. I see optimal is 6 - 8, so I'm a bit too high for my liking.

I've just started looking into that myself, but I'm a bit confused. I get that a good B-vitamin would be good, and to make sure you get B6, B12, and folic acid in it. Then I read something about betaine HCl, but need to find out more about that.

[movintime]

Originally Posted by stepka

I've just started looking into that myself, but I'm a bit confused. I get that a good B-vitamin would be good, and to make sure you get B6, B12, and folic acid in it. Then I read something about betaine HCl, but need to find out more about that.

According to Webmd, I see Betaine itself (NOT w/ HCL) is best, & it lowers homocysteine. I'm not sure if folic acid was "old school" way to lower it, but it seems fallen by wayside to use folic only,so now I don't know.

I've held off on coffee (& still have alot of anxiety that I've had to take atvian again for) but I wanted to see if removing caffeine/coffee helped but it has not.

I looked on Vitacost & they have Betaine Annhydrous (w/out water, I think) thus this may be worth a try.

Also Vitamin C & maybe Melatonin help too. Also good fish or krill oil too.

[suzy_q2010]

Originally Posted by movintime

According to Webmd, I see Betaine itself (NOT w/ HCL) is best, & it lowers homocysteine. I'm not sure if folic acid was "old school" way to lower it, but it seems fallen by wayside to use folic only,so now I don't know.

I've held off on coffee (& still have alot of anxiety that I've had to take atvian again for) but I wanted to see if removing caffeine/coffee helped but it has not.

I looked on Vitacost & they have Betaine Annhydrous (w/out water, I think) thus this may be worth a try.

Also Vitamin C & maybe Melatonin help too. Also good fish or krill oil too.

The real problem with the markers of inflammation is that no one knows whether getting the marker numbers into the normal range means the inflammation is better, and if the inflammation is not better, changing the numbers may not mean anything as far as cardiovascular risk is concerned.

[movintime]

Originally Posted by suzy_q2010

The real problem with the markers of inflammation is that no one knows whether getting the marker numbers into the normal range means the inflammation is better, and if the inflammation is not better, changing the numbers may not mean anything as far as cardiovascular risk is concerned.

I know. This is very true. It is just that I have "wishful thinking".

But you're right, there is no guarantee that any of these supplements do anything. My cardio doc advised that "I don't need anything other than continue w/ good diet, exercise, etc". He told me, "why would you need things if all your heart tests are fine?".

Good point, but like everyone else we all think we can/could do better somehow.