The rate of homocysteine ​​when planning pregnancy and the causes of deviations

During the carrying of the baby in the female body there will be numerous biochemical changes. One of the important clinical indicators is homocysteine. This article will help to understand what are the features of changes in this parameter when planning pregnancy.

Homocysteine ​​called specific amino acid molecules. The forerunner of their formation is methionine. The level of homocysteine ​​in the blood is not a constant indicator. At different periods of life, it can either rise or fall.

In women, such changes can also occur during pregnancy. As a rule, the concentration of this substance in the blood somewhat decreases immediately after conception of the baby and immediately before birth.

Methionine man gets, eating protein. This substance is found in animal products. A rather high concentration of this substance is in chicken eggs and meat.

During the prenatal development of the child, this protein component is very important. It affects how the placental circulation will function. The placenta is the main organ through which the baby, located in my mother's tummy, receives all the necessary substances for its development. If it does not function correctly, then it may even lead to the emergence of various pathologies of intrauterine development.

Given this mechanism of action of a given substance during pregnancy, one can understand the significance of its determination at the planning stage. A normal level of homocysteine ​​in the blood of a woman preparing to become a mother is necessary for her to carry a healthy baby.

This substance is responsible for performing many functions not only for women, but also for men. In the male body homocysteine ​​is responsible for many indicators of the vascular system.

The normal concentration of this substance in the blood protects the inner walls of blood vessels from the "sticking" of platelets to them. This contributes to the fact that blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques do not form on the walls of blood vessels.

Increasing the blood concentration of a given substance often causes the lumen of the arteries to begin to narrow. Thus, the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the internal organs is reduced. This leads to the fact that they begin to function not in full.

Experts believe that the norm of this substance in the blood is 10-11 µmol / l. If this indicator drops to 8–9 µmol / l, the doctor will definitely advise the expectant mother to monitor her diet and even correct the daily diet.

Venous blood is required for the study. Doctors recommend taking an analysis of women preparing to become mothers, 3-4 months before the planned conception of the baby. This period is quite sufficient for the correction of violations, if they are identified after the study.

If a woman gave such an analysis earlier and she had any deviations from the norm, then in this case it is better to donate blood 5-6 months before the planned conception of the baby. The same should be done to all expectant mothers who are at high risk for increasing homocysteine.

It is very important that before the planned conception the concentration of this substance in the blood should be below 13 µmol / l. If this indicator is much higher than this level, then this may be a threat to the further intrauterine development of the child. In such a situation, it is better to normalize the level of homocysteine ​​before conceiving a baby.

Special training is not required before conducting this laboratory test. However, there are still a number of recommendations.

1-2 days before visiting the laboratory should carefully monitor their diet. Fatty and fried foods should be excluded from the menu. On the eve of the study should be easy to eat dinner and do not overload the body difficult to digest foods.

To donate blood for analysis is better in the morning, on an empty stomach. You can drink some water before going to the lab. The last meal should be 7.5-8 hours before blood donation.

The day before the study is better not to smoke and do not drink alcohol. This may affect the result. If the figures turn out to be unreliable, then in such a situation it may even be necessary to repeat the analysis.

Terms of readiness analysis may be different. It largely depends on how heavily the lab is loaded. The average time available for analysis is usually 1-2 days.

You can study in various medical institutions. Quite often, tests are done in private laboratories. In this case, the resulting test result is sent by e-mail, which is very convenient.

Quite often, a high homocysteine ​​level is determined during the study. A variety of factors can lead to this condition. In some cases, they even act simultaneously.

With a deficiency of vitamins of group B, the level of homocysteine ​​is increased. Such vitamin substances include B9, B12, B6, B1. Often this condition manifests itself in an improper diet.

Deficiency of elements can also appear in various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Diseases of the intestine, accompanied by a violation of absorption, lead to the fact that the vitamins of this group simply cease to be fully absorbed into the bloodstream.

Smoking and alcohol abuse can also lead to increased blood levels of homocysteine. Prospective parents should still completely abandon these bad habits. This will not only positively affect the state of their own health, but also increase the likelihood of conceiving a baby.

Coffee lovers should also pay attention to the concentration of homocysteine ​​in the blood. Scientists noted that frequent use of this drink can lead to an increase in its concentration in the blood. Limiting consumption of this drink can normalize homocysteine ​​levels.

Also this indicator can be low. This condition in medical practice is less common. If the homocysteine ​​concentration in the blood is only slightly reduced, then no drug therapy is required in this situation.

Doctors take action only if the level of this substance in the blood drops to 4 µmol / L and below. It is important to note that in this case the conception of the baby is still possible.

In such a situation, the general condition of the expectant mother worsens.A woman is much worse endured the first weeks of pregnancy. In such a situation, as a rule, simple correction of eating behavior helps.

If the level of homocysteine ​​in the blood is slightly elevated, then a banal menu correction can help. Diet therapy plays an important role in the treatment of this pathological condition.

In order that the homocysteine ​​precursor, methionine, behaved regularly, a woman should eat eggs or meat products daily. Optimally, if these products will be included in 1-2 daily meals.

The optimal intake of B vitamins is also very important. This can help leafy greens, walnuts and almonds, watermelons, peaches, various types of citrus fruits, pastries from wholemeal flour, buckwheat, oatmeal, tomatoes and juice, cod liver and other fish. In order that the diet is not boring, you should definitely combine these products.

People who are actively involved in sports or physical training are also in the high risk zone for the development of this condition. A couple who are planning to conceive a baby should carefully select the types of exercises.

It is better to still discuss the possibility of playing sports with a doctor. The doctor will help determine what types of training can be shown, and what not. Go to a more benign sports should be no less than 2-3 months before the planned conception of the baby.

One of the basic drugs used for this therapy are vitamins of group B. Such funds are administered, as a rule, by injection. After normalization of the level of homocysteine ​​in the blood, it may be sufficient only to take a course of multivitamin preparations.

In some cases, the reception and disaggregant means. These drugs help to improve the rheological properties of blood. These tools include "Kleksan", "Fraksiparin", "Fragmin" and many others. It is important to note that you should not take these funds yourself. They have a number of side effects.

The choice of drug therapy is carried out by the attending physician after determining the severity of functional disorders. The doctor also determines the duration of therapy. As a rule, at least 2-3 months of properly selected treatment are required to normalize well-being.

For what homocysteine ​​and its norms are, see the following video.