Study results suggest people who carry a gene that produces a higher level of the amino acid homocysteine have a small increased risk for
Study results suggest people who carry a gene that produces a higher level of the amino acid homocysteine have a small increased risk for stroke.
Researchers reviewed medical literature on homocysteine levels and stroke and it was found that previous study results were observational in nature. A standard scientific approach was used to weed out confounding factors by looking at data on the link between homocysteine and gene variations that cause people to have higher or lower levels of the amino acid in their blood. Researchers also compared risks from observational studies with those from the gene-based studies to arrive at their findings.However some scientists feel that it is too soon to say that gene variation causing higher homocysteine levels is really to blame for an increased risk of stroke in the particular population, as gene variation itself may also affect behavioral or socioeconomic factors that could be increasing the stroke risk.
In conclusion specialists say until more study is done , prescribing folic acid and/or vitamin B for people with higher homocysteine levels should be avoided .
