What heals a broken heart?

As anyone in my weight loss or wellness practice knows, I often times will have blood work done that measures your Homocysteine level.  This is a very important blood test because it measures the conversion of Homocysteine to cysteine.  An essential cofactor in this process is Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12.  These B complex vitamins also play a very important role in the transport of magnesium across cellular membranes. 

An article published in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation, report a link between a higher blood level of Vitamin B6 and a reduction in the risk of a heart attack in women.  This is evidence that many of us have known for some time.  However, it is really interesting that it is starting to catch on in the "mainstream" medical literature.

The authors studied 144 women who were equally matched for age and risk factors, including smoking.  These women had stored fasting blood samples of the active form of Vitamin B6 called pyridoxal 5'phosphate (PLP).  It is this form that is dominant in the circulation of humans.  Homocysteine has been found to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease when it is seen in elevated levels in the human circulation.

This information is quite interesting to me. It seems that vitamin supplementation is really essential.  Remember, if we all ate off the land as hunters and gatherers, eating whole foods that are not processed and meats that were raised off the land, we probably would not need vitamin supplements.  Another consideration is the differences in quality between mass production farming versus the more natural and expensive organic farming.

You might want to consider getting some good quality supplements for your family for Christmas. It might be the best gift you could ever give them.

Merry Christmas!

Dr. Michelle Haendiges