Hyperhomocysteinemia: role of betaine, folic acid, vit B6,B12

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Hyperhomocysteinemia: Use of a formula containing betaine, folic acid, vitamin B6 and B12 lowering serum level of homocysteine.

Hyperhomocysteinemia, the content of homocysteine in blood higher than normal, is now considered an additional risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Its value in plasma is controlled by the action of enzymes that use 4 different co- enzymes, respectively:

• folic acid,
• vitamin B6,
• vitamin B12 and
• betaine.

Clinical trials carried out by analyzing the capacity of reducing the values of homocysteine in plasma.

In this trial the administration of:

folic acid (10 mg/day), associated with vitamin B6 (100 mg/day) and vitamin B12 (1 mg/day).

The results demonstrated the ability to reduce the value of homocysteine after 6 months of therapy by about 25%.

Instead, the administration of betaine alone (6 g/day) results in reduction by approximately 50%.

The sustained release preparation in tablets containing folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12 and betaine together led to a reduction in homocysteine by 25% at 90 days, and by 30% at 180 days.

These values are relevant in view of the low doses used.

Compared to trials cited as reference, in our study we administered a quantity of folic acid, B6, B12 and betaine lower than 25, 33, 266 and 24 times, respectively.

This study clearly demonstrates the synergy obtained by adding betaine to the triad of B vitamins commonly used in the treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia.