Homocysteine is measured in micromoles per litre of blood (µmol/L). Worldwide homocysteine levels are high - geography cannot protect you from the potential risks homocysteine poses to health!

The lower the homocysteine the better the odds

There is really no healthy level for homocysteine but generally the lower, the better. A 'safe zone' is normally considered to be below 9µmol/L.

Starting from the top:

Above 14 - you are at major risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke and the risk from Alzheimer’s disease increases by over 150%.

Below 9 - Mothers who consistently give birth to healthy, normal babies tend to have homocysteine levels below 9. Furthermore, patients who have had coronary angioplasty treatment suffer from significantly fewer new arterial blockages and cardiovascular disease later in life.

As the graph shows below, the higher the homocysteine level the greater the risk. The lower the homocysteine level, the lower the risk of developing coronary artery disease and suffering potentially fatal heart attacks and strokes.

Your homocysteine level can be checked using a simple blood test. For more information on the different homocysteine tests available click here.