Do you have to be sober for the homocysteine test?

Question from Djina: Do I need to be sober when I have homocysteine pricked?

A: Yes for homocysteine you need to be sober:

Elevated homocysteine levels indicate a functional B12 deficiency, even if the blood level of B12 is still in the (low) normal values! Homocysteine is an amino acid that can be produced in the human body from another amino acid, methionine. This conversion takes place with the help of enzymes. Under normal circumstances, the homocysteine produced is transformed again or broken down so that the amount in the body does not increase.

If this process is incomplete, homocysteine can continue to circulate in the blood. Increased homocysteine levels (elevated homocysteine) can be caused by genetic disorders, but also by a lack of folic acid, vitamins B6, B2, B12. This is because these have a function as coenzymes in the breakdown of methionine. With increasing age, normal homocysteine levels increase: by sun 5 to 10% every 10 years.

Normal blood homocysteine levels are increasingly set in England and America at 7 µmol/liter for men and 6 µmol/liter for women. A value above 15 µmol/liter is too high.

However, this level must be determined when a person has not eaten or drunk for 12 hours (is sober).

Homocysteine and nutrition

Vegetables, fruits, and especially sprouts (alfalfa, bean sprouts, broccoli sprouts, etc.) contain substances that lower values. The most effective anti-homocysteine products are:
Vegetable sprouts, avocado, cottage cheese, ricotta, fish, oysters, legumes, egg, onions,
garlic, nuts, seeds (tahini), algae, wheat germ, poultry, broccoli, cabbage, chicory, leafy greens, granola and asparagus.

You must be sober for 12 hours before taking blood for this test.

https://www.bloodtesting.nl/homocysteine.html