While commercial blood test labs say "normal" homocysteine concentration in your blood can range from 5 to 15 micromoles per liter of blood, medical studies show that homocysteine levels above 6.3 are unhealthy and associated with a steep, progressive risk of coronary artery disease and heart attack.¹

The average American's homocysteine level is 10, more than 50% above the low-risk threshold.²

Homocysteine concentrations now widely accepted as normal are associated with increased likelihood of coronary artery disease, and this risk increases with rising homocysteine concentrations.¹ Each 3-unit increase in homocysteine equal a 35% increase in heart attack risk.³

Plasma total homocysteine is a strong predictor of both cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality in a general population of 65-72 year olds. A homocysteine increment of 5 mmol/L has been associated with a 49% increase in all-cause mortality, a 50% increase in cardiovascular mortality, a 26% increase in cancer mortality, and a 104% increase in noncancer, noncardiovascular mortality.⁴

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References

¹Robinson K., et al. Hyperhomocysteinemia and low pyridoxal phosphate. Common and independent reversible risk factors for coronary artery disease. Circulation. 1995 Nov 15;92(10):2825-30.

²Andreotti F., et al. Homocysteine and arterial occlusive disease: a concise review. Cardiologia. 1999 Apr;44(4):341-5.

³Verhoef, MJ. Et al. Homocysteine metabolism and risk of myocardial infarction: relation with vitamins B6, B12, and folate. Am. J. Epidemiol. 1996 143: 845-859.

⁴ Stein Emil Vollset, et al. Plasma total homocysteine and cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study Am J Clin Nutr 2001 74: 130-136.