Researchers studied 90 children who were just diagnosed with lymphoma to understand why their bodies produce too much of a chemical called homocysteine, which can cause damage. They found that almost all the children had high homocysteine levels, and many didn’t have enough B vitamins. The study also discovered that certain genes and vitamin deficiencies made the damage worse. These findings suggest that checking homocysteine and vitamin levels early might help doctors better understand and treat childhood lymphoma.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether children newly diagnosed with lymphoma have high levels of a harmful chemical called homocysteine, and whether vitamin deficiencies and genes make this problem worse
  • Who participated: 90 children with newly diagnosed lymphoma who hadn’t started chemotherapy yet
  • Key finding: 96% of the children (87 out of 90) had dangerously high homocysteine levels, and most were missing important B vitamins. Children with a specific genetic variation had even more cell damage from oxidative stress
  • What it means for you: If your child is diagnosed with lymphoma, doctors may want to check homocysteine and B vitamin levels as part of their care plan. This information could help personalize treatment, though more research is needed to confirm whether treating these issues improves outcomes

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers took a snapshot in time by measuring different things in 90 children all at once—right when they were diagnosed with lymphoma, before they started chemotherapy. The researchers measured homocysteine (a chemical in the blood), B vitamins (B12, B6, and folate), and markers of cell damage caused by oxidative stress (which is like rust forming inside cells). They also tested each child’s genes to see if they had a specific variation in a gene called MTHFR that affects how the body processes these chemicals.

Think of it like taking a photograph of each child’s body chemistry at one moment in time, rather than following them over months or years. This approach is useful for identifying patterns and connections, but it can’t prove that one thing causes another.

This research approach is important because it gives doctors a clear picture of what’s happening in children’s bodies right when lymphoma is diagnosed. By measuring everything at the same time, researchers could see which factors go together—like high homocysteine with low B vitamins. This helps identify which children might need extra attention to their nutrition and metabolism during treatment.

The study has good points: it measured many different markers of cell damage and vitamin status, included genetic testing, and studied a specific group (newly diagnosed children before treatment). However, because it’s a snapshot study, it can’t prove that homocysteine causes the cell damage—only that they appear together. The study is relatively small (90 children), so results might not apply to all children with lymphoma. The researchers didn’t compare these children to healthy children without lymphoma, which would have made the findings stronger.

What the Results Show

Almost all the children in the study (96%, or 87 out of 90) had high homocysteine levels—much higher than what’s considered normal. At the same time, most children had low levels of folate (a B vitamin) and B12 (another B vitamin). These vitamins are important for controlling homocysteine levels in the body.

The researchers also found that children with high homocysteine had more markers of cell damage from oxidative stress. This is like having more rust damage inside their cells. Interestingly, children who had a specific genetic variation (called MTHFR 677CT) had even more cell damage, even though their homocysteine levels weren’t necessarily higher than other children.

The study showed that folate and B6 levels were connected to homocysteine—when these vitamins were low, homocysteine was high. This makes sense because these vitamins help the body break down and control homocysteine.

The genetic variation (MTHFR 677CT) appeared to be particularly important. Children with this genetic variation had higher levels of certain cell damage markers, suggesting their bodies might be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of high homocysteine. This could mean that genetic testing might help identify which children need more careful monitoring of their metabolism.

Previous research in adults with cancer has suggested that high homocysteine and oxidative stress are connected to cancer, but this study is one of the first to carefully examine this relationship in children with lymphoma. The findings support the idea that metabolic problems (how the body processes chemicals) are important in childhood cancer, not just in adult cancer. The strong connection between B vitamin deficiency and high homocysteine matches what scientists have seen in other diseases.

This study has several important limitations. First, it only looked at children at one point in time, so we can’t know if high homocysteine caused the lymphoma or if the lymphoma caused the high homocysteine. Second, there was no comparison group of healthy children, so we don’t know how much higher these levels are compared to normal. Third, the study is relatively small (90 children), so the results might not apply to all children with lymphoma everywhere. Finally, the study didn’t follow children over time to see if treating the homocysteine or vitamin deficiencies actually helped them get better.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, doctors may want to: (1) Check homocysteine and B vitamin levels in children newly diagnosed with lymphoma as part of standard care (moderate confidence); (2) Consider B vitamin supplementation if deficiencies are found (moderate confidence, pending further research); (3) Consider genetic testing for MTHFR variations in children with high homocysteine to identify those at higher risk for cell damage (low to moderate confidence). These are research-based suggestions, not proven treatments yet.

This research is most relevant to: children newly diagnosed with lymphoma and their families, pediatric oncologists (cancer doctors for children), and nutritionists working with cancer patients. It’s less relevant to healthy children or adults with other types of cancer, though some findings might apply to them. Parents should discuss these findings with their child’s cancer care team rather than making changes on their own.

If B vitamin supplementation is started, it might take several weeks to normalize homocysteine levels and reduce cell damage markers. However, this is based on general knowledge about B vitamins, not proven in this specific study. The real benefit—whether treating these metabolic problems improves cancer outcomes—would take months or years to determine and requires further research.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track B vitamin intake (folate, B12, B6) in grams per day and homocysteine levels (if measured by doctor) in μmol/L. Set a goal to reach recommended daily values for B vitamins and monitor changes in homocysteine levels at doctor visits every 4-8 weeks.
  • If your child is diagnosed with lymphoma, work with your medical team to: (1) Get baseline homocysteine and B vitamin testing done; (2) If deficient, add B vitamin-rich foods (leafy greens, eggs, fish, beans) or supplements as recommended by your doctor; (3) Log any supplements given and note any side effects or changes in energy levels.
  • Create a health tracking log that records: weekly B vitamin intake, monthly homocysteine test results (when available), energy levels, and any symptoms. Share this with your child’s medical team at each visit. This helps doctors see patterns and adjust nutrition support if needed.

This research describes what scientists found in a study of 90 children with lymphoma, but it does not prove that treating high homocysteine or B vitamin deficiency will improve cancer outcomes. These findings should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition. If your child has been diagnosed with lymphoma or you’re concerned about homocysteine levels, speak with your pediatrician or pediatric oncologist before making any changes to diet, supplements, or treatment. This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.