Yes, I was just responding to the above off-topic chatter about lowering it. Should have been more clear.
Prescription drugs of all types increase it ā¦
Fibratesā¦
Short answer: yes, especially after protein-heavy meals. Not a crisis, just normal biochem being dramatic. Hereās the deal, fast and useful: What rises: Total homocysteine (tHcy) in blood. Why: Meals with methionine (an amino acid abundant in meat, eggs, some dairy) temporarily flood the remethylation/transsulfuration pathways. The āmethionine loadā test in clinics literally exploits this to see how well your methylation handles a surge. How much: Mixed, normal meals: usually a small bump (often ~1ā3 Ī¼mol/L above your fasting baseline). Very methionine-rich bolus (think: huge steak, methionine-load test): can be a larger spike. Timing: Starts rising within 2ā4 hours, often peaks around 4ā8 hours, then drifts back toward baseline by 8ā12+ hours. This is why labs want a fasting draw. Who spikes more: People low in folate, B12, B6, or with sluggish kidney function, hypothyroidism, or certain meds can show bigger and longer spikes. What blunts it: TMG (betaine) taken with or near a protein-heavy meal can flatten the post-meal rise. Adequate folate/B12/B6 status. Pair protein with vegetables/greens (folate) instead of going full āprotein comet.ā Donāt chug multiple strong coffees alongside a huge methionine hit if youāre chasing a pristine post-meal curve. Bottom line: Meals, especially high-methionine ones, do cause a temporary homocysteine bump. Your fasting number is the one to track for long-term risk. If youāre actively trying to damp post-meal spikes, keep B-vitamins on point and consider TMG 500ā1000 mg with big protein meals.
Short answer: yes, especially after protein-heavy meals. Not a crisis, just normal biochem being dramatic.
Hereās the deal, fast and useful:
What rises: Total homocysteine (tHcy) in blood.
Why: Meals with methionine (an amino acid abundant in meat, eggs, some dairy) temporarily flood the remethylation/transsulfuration pathways. The āmethionine loadā test in clinics literally exploits this to see how well your methylation handles a surge.
How much:
Timing: Starts rising within 2ā4 hours, often peaks around 4ā8 hours, then drifts back toward baseline by 8ā12+ hours. This is why labs want a fasting draw.
Who spikes more: People low in folate, B12, B6, or with sluggish kidney function, hypothyroidism, or certain meds can show bigger and longer spikes.
What blunts it:
Bottom line: Meals, especially high-methionine ones, do cause a temporary homocysteine bump. Your fasting number is the one to track for long-term risk. If youāre actively trying to damp post-meal spikes, keep B-vitamins on point and consider TMG 500ā1000 mg with big protein meals.
