Homocysteine is an amino acid, and elevated levels have been associated with several health concerns, including cardiovascular disease and bone loss. Vitamins involved in one-carbon and amino-acid metabolism—particularly folate and vitamin B₆—are required for the normal metabolism of homocysteine into other compounds.
Research published in Diabetes Care (2005; 28(11):2750–2755) examined the relationship between homocysteine levels and the development of diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes.
This prospective study followed 170 women who had experienced impaired glucose regulation during pregnancy but did not have diabetes six weeks postpartum. Participants underwent a two-hour glucose tolerance test, and measurements of blood glucose, insulin, lipids, cholesterol, and homocysteine were obtained annually for four years.
During the follow-up period, just over 10% of the women (18 participants) were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Women who developed diabetes had significantly higher homocysteine levels compared with those who did not. The authors concluded that elevated homocysteine may be a risk marker for the later development of diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes.
Previous research has suggested that vitamin B₆ may play a protective role in gestational glucose regulation. Because vitamin B₆ is required for homocysteine metabolism, impaired B₆ status may contribute to elevated homocysteine levels and increased metabolic risk.
