The Methionine Hub: Vitamin B12, Tetrahydrofolate, SAM & Homocysteine

The Methionine Hub: Vitamin B12, Tetrahydrofolate, SAM & Homocysteine

April 1, 2026 · 3 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the physiological importance of methionine and its relationship with Vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine in cardiovascular health.

This podcast details the physiological importance of **methionine**, an **essential amino acid** that humans must obtain through their diet. It serves as a critical **building block for protein synthesis**, acting as the starting signal for translating genetic code in all living organisms. Beyond its role in structures, it functions as a **precursor to cysteine** and generates **S-adenosylmethionine**, a vital molecule used for transferring methyl groups in biological reactions. The podcast also explains that while methionine can be recycled from **homocysteine**, this process requires **Vitamin B12 and folate** to function correctly. Consequently, a lack of these vitamins can lead to an unhealthy **accumulation of homocysteine**, which is linked to a higher risk of **cardiovascular disease**.

People in this episode

Host: A J Ghalayini, Ph.D.

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: cardiovascular disease, methionine

Products: Vitamin B12, Tetrahydrofolate, S-adenosylmethionine, cysteine, homocysteine

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