Category: Homocysteine

Homocysteine is a key marker in methylation and detoxification, linking metabolism, cardiovascular health, and mood regulation. Elevated homocysteine can indicate poor methylation or impaired conversion into cysteine and glutathione—the body’s main antioxidant—while very low levels may reflect overmethylation or folate excess. Posts in this section explain how homocysteine interacts with the SAM/SAH ratio to show overall methylation efficiency, and how zinc, B6, B12, folate, and betaine (TMG) influence these pathways. High homocysteine contributes to oxidative stress, vascular inflammation, and cognitive decline, while low levels may signal reduced methyl donor availability for neurotransmitter balance. The Walsh Protocol emphasizes interpreting homocysteine alongside histamine, SAM/SAH, and other methylation markers to understand a patient’s biochemical type. Dr. Epstein’s approach includes improving enzyme function through alkalinity, supporting liver detox with NAC, glycine, and antioxidants, and restoring nutrient cofactors to keep homocysteine in the optimal range for both cardiovascular and mental health.