Homocysteine is a metabolite (byproduct) of the essential amino acid methionine.  When homocysteine levels get too high in the bloodstream, they can become toxic.  This can lead to arterial damage.  When homocysteine levels are high, arteries can become scarred and thickened, enabling plaque to build up on artery walls.  High homocysteine levels can lead to the development of arteriosclerosis, the number one side effect of diabetes.    

This is an excellent reason to monitor homocysteine levels if you are diabetic.  Additionally arterial blockage and nerve damage can occur at the capillary level.  This can result in the extremities experiencing side effects.  For example, the eyes becoming blind, the penis becoming impotent, and the hands and feet becoming amputated.  This can occur by plaque building up on the capillaries of these extremities.  This can lead to loss of blood flow to nerves.  The nerves can die from lack of blood supply, leading to nerve damage. 

The reason diabetics need to be especially careful; diabetes leads to having too much sugar in the bloodstream.  This leads to increased insulin levels in the bloodstream.  Excess insulin is converted by the liver into triglycerides.  In this way excess blood sugar can result in excess fat in the bloodstream. This excess fat can then build up at points where homocysteine has resulted in scarring and thickening of vascular walls. Excess homocysteine and excess fats can be dangerous and diabetics often have both.    

A diabetic should consider blood checkups, which include measuring homocysteine levels, which may often be overlooked by doctors.  Doctors usually focus on triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and other blood fats, but not on homocysteine levels.        

We recommend, for high homocysteine levels, supplementing trimethylglycine (TMG), which turns homocysteine back into methionine.  This is a non-toxic way to decrease homocysteine levels

Dr. Bob was a MD internal medicine, orthomolecular doctor, MD psychiatrist, chiropractor, and healer 65 years.  He was a diabetic who lived to 108 years with only 1 side effect 2 years before he passed away. 

The liver is the main organ of detoxification. The liver can become overloaded from toxicity, such as high homocystine levels, leading to impaired function.  Dr. Bob recommended milk thistle to help restore optimal liver function.  He advised use it in the AM and PM.     

Usually the body needs certain vitamins and minerals when it is fighting specific disease conditions.  Dr. Bob advised a multivitamin and mineral to help supply necessary co-factors to combat disease.  

Dr. Michael Colgan, perhaps the world's number one expert on nutritional science and health, in the Colgan Chronicles (Volume 1, Number 8, Page 1 & 2), recommends 800mcg folic acid, 50 mg of vitamin B-6, and 100mcg of vitamin B-12 for high homocysteine levels. He also states, "if you have a history of heart disease in your family, in your own health history, are menstruating, or are over 55, we would recommend you increase your B-12 intake to at least 500mcg per day and if you fall into any of the above groups, I would increase folic acid to at least 1200mcg per day."  He explains in the Colgan Chronicles that vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folic acid are neutralizing co-factors of homocysteine, (Volume 1, Number 8, Page 1 and 2.).    

These ideas of Dr. Michael Colgan and Dr. Bob Gibson are a system of medicine called orthomolecular medicine.  This is a system of medicine that uses natural substances, non- toxic, and safe in a wide range of dose.  The nutritional recommendations that both doctors make fall within the scope of this definition. 

Perhaps diabetics should seek out orthomolecular doctors.  They specialize in nutritional science and health.  Diabetics mainly have metabolism problems that are nutritionally based.  Therefore orthomolecular doctors and diabetics seem an excellent match.  There is a listing of some orthomolecular doctors on the web site www.restoreunity.org  

Supplement listed in this article: 

1.      TMG – to reduce homocystine.

2.      Silymarin – to help the liver.

3.      Multivitamin and mineral – to supply co-factors.

4.      Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 for high homocystine levels.
 

Note - In order for these anti-aging ideas to be successful, you must use supplements of the highest quality. Dr. Bob often said, "almost all supplement companies produce poor quality." You can consider the product page of this web site. Almost all the products met Dr. Bob’s approval. Since he passed away we have attempted to keep the same high standards.

WARNING:  DO NOT STOP ANY TREATMENT OR MEDICATION YOU CURRENTLY USE.  CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING THE USE OF SUPPLEMENTS. 

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The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated any of the statements contained on this web site. The information contained in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Remember each person's body is different and will react differently to various herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements. Therefore, any supplementation must be administered on an individual basis. Use the information found on this web site as precisely that: Information. You and your doctor must make any final decisions. This information is not meant to replace any doctor and patient consultation. This information should in no way replace your personal physician's advice.