Overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processes

Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid formed from the essential amino acid methionine. This metabolism cycle requires vitamin-derived cofactors, pyridoxine for transsulfuration and both folate and cobalamin [1]. In a normal diet there is conservation of the carbon skeleton, and about 50% o...

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Main Authors: Aleksandra Kędzia, Michał Bolek, Bartosz Jagieła, Monika Fidyk, Dominika Musialska, Magda Minkiewicz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 2025-05-01
Series:Quality in Sport
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Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60254
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author Aleksandra Kędzia
Michał Bolek
Bartosz Jagieła
Monika Fidyk
Dominika Musialska
Magda Minkiewicz
author_facet Aleksandra Kędzia
Michał Bolek
Bartosz Jagieła
Monika Fidyk
Dominika Musialska
Magda Minkiewicz
author_sort Aleksandra Kędzia
collection DOAJ
description Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid formed from the essential amino acid methionine. This metabolism cycle requires vitamin-derived cofactors, pyridoxine for transsulfuration and both folate and cobalamin [1]. In a normal diet there is conservation of the carbon skeleton, and about 50% of the homocysteine formed is remethylated to methionine via steps that require folic acid and vitamin B12. A deficiency of any of these three vitamins leads to modest homocysteine elevation. Why does hyperhomocysteinemia play a vital role in medical practice? It is established that homocysteine elevation is associated with different complications, mainly increased cardiovascular risk [2]. Hyperhomocysteinemia and homocystinuria is connected with occlusive artery disease, especially in the brain, the heart, and the kidney, in addition to venous thrombosis. However the increased level of homocysteine has also an impact on other systems and is connected with osteoporosis, depression, Alzheimer's disease, pregnancy problems, and others. Elevated homocysteine levels occur in both the adult and child population [3]. This review article will address the importance of homocysteine in nervous and cardiovascular systems but also indicate some controversial theses and reasons to further investigation. 
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publisher Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
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spelling doaj-art-cfc500d5e7544be9a436d4adb2f1ee8a2025-08-20T02:15:06ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-05-014110.12775/QS.2025.41.60254Overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processesAleksandra Kędzia0https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4130-2983Michał Bolek1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7991-3212Bartosz Jagieła2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5592-1511Monika Fidyk3https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8664-8132Dominika Musialska4https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5886-5543Magda Minkiewicz5https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7492-8033DCOPiH (Lower Silesian Oncology Center in Wrocław) Ludwika Hirszfelda Square 12, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland 4th Military Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw Weigla 5, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland University Clinical Hospital of Jan Mikulicz-Radecki in Wroclaw Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland 4th Military Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw, Weigla 5, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland 4th Military Clinical Hospital SP ZOZ, Weigla 5, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland University Clinical Hospital of Jan Mikulicz-Radecki in Wroclaw Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid formed from the essential amino acid methionine. This metabolism cycle requires vitamin-derived cofactors, pyridoxine for transsulfuration and both folate and cobalamin [1]. In a normal diet there is conservation of the carbon skeleton, and about 50% of the homocysteine formed is remethylated to methionine via steps that require folic acid and vitamin B12. A deficiency of any of these three vitamins leads to modest homocysteine elevation. Why does hyperhomocysteinemia play a vital role in medical practice? It is established that homocysteine elevation is associated with different complications, mainly increased cardiovascular risk [2]. Hyperhomocysteinemia and homocystinuria is connected with occlusive artery disease, especially in the brain, the heart, and the kidney, in addition to venous thrombosis. However the increased level of homocysteine has also an impact on other systems and is connected with osteoporosis, depression, Alzheimer's disease, pregnancy problems, and others. Elevated homocysteine levels occur in both the adult and child population [3]. This review article will address the importance of homocysteine in nervous and cardiovascular systems but also indicate some controversial theses and reasons to further investigation.  https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60254Homocysteinecardiovascular diseaseshomocysteine metabolismhiperhomocysteinemiaNeurodegenerationCognitive diseases
spellingShingle Aleksandra Kędzia
Michał Bolek
Bartosz Jagieła
Monika Fidyk
Dominika Musialska
Magda Minkiewicz
Overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processes
Quality in Sport
Homocysteine
cardiovascular diseases
homocysteine metabolism
hiperhomocysteinemia
Neurodegeneration
Cognitive diseases
title Overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processes
title_full Overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processes
title_fullStr Overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processes
title_full_unstemmed Overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processes
title_short Overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processes
title_sort overview of homocysteine and its role in disease processes
topic Homocysteine
cardiovascular diseases
homocysteine metabolism
hiperhomocysteinemia
Neurodegeneration
Cognitive diseases
url https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/60254
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