Serum Homocysteine – A Quest for a Novel Surrogate Marker of Cardiovascular Health and Disease in Racing Horses - RMGS

Homocysteine is an endogenous, nonproteinogenic amino acid, an intermediate metabolite formed by transmethylation of methionine. Its elevated serum concentration in humans, hyperhomocysteinemia, is a sensitive marker and a risk factor for coagulation disorders, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Although some research has been carried out in domesticated animals, the role of homocysteine in horses has not been unequivocally established. So far, it has been demonstrated in this species that homocysteine has atherogenic effect, plays a role in early embryo mortality and is responsible for the induction of the oxidative stress. The aim of the present study is to establish the role of serum homocysteine as a potential surrogate marker to aid early detection of oncological, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases associated with oxidative stress in racehorses.