Hyperomocysteinemia in an Unselected Female Population: Incidence and Treatment Options.

Abstract

Homocysteine (HCys) is a sulfur-containing amino acid involved in the conversion of methionine to cysteine. Elevated levels of HCys, known as hyperhomocysteinemia, have been associated with health risks, including cardiovascular and neurological disorders. This study examined the incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia in an unselected female population and evaluated the effectiveness of a Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs), EUCIS PLUS, in reducing HCys levels.The study was divided into two phases: The first phase of the study, conducted at the Poliambulatorio Polimedica in Trebaseleghe (PD), evaluated the incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia in 181 women with an average age of 47.8 years; the second phase tested the effectiveness of EUCIS PLUS, a FSMPs, in reducing HCys levels in women with values above 10 µmol/L. During Phase 1, an incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia was observed in 81.2% of 181 women, with mean HCys levels of 15.4 µmol/L. Phase 2 involved treating 44 women with HCys >10 µmol/L using EUCIS PLUS, resulting in an average reduction of HCys levels by 36%, reaching 10.7 µmol/L after two months of treatment. Hyperomocysteinemia is an underdiagnosed risk condition. The results of this study highlight the importance of diagnosing and managing hyperhomocysteinemia and suggest that the FSMPs EUCIS PLUS can be an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option.