Researchers from the University of Michigan* have suggested that reducing homocysteine levels through vitamin supplementation could potentially improve longevity in the U.S. population. Their analysis was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (December 11, 2004) and was based on a computer model that incorporated the known cardiovascular risks associated with elevated homocysteine levels.
Homocysteine is an amino acid linked to cardiovascular disease, and individuals with lower homocysteine levels tend to have a reduced risk of heart disease compared with those who have elevated levels. Using population-based assumptions, the model estimated that elevated homocysteine levels might account for approximately 6% to 10% of deaths due to heart disease in the United States.
Adequate intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 is known to lower homocysteine levels. The researchers evaluated the cost-effectiveness of using a multivitamin to achieve this reduction and concluded that even relatively small decreases in heart-related mortality could justify the low cost of supplementation at a population level.
According to Mark Fendrick, MD, a co-author of the study, “Homocysteine is a notable case of a known medical risk where we strongly suspect a possible benefit from an inexpensive intervention. This conservatively designed study suggests that the benefit doesn’t need to be very large to make the intervention worthwhile.”
