Are you tired of being tired? Perhaps you experience depression, migraines, digestive issues and/or miscarriages and doctors can’t seem to figure it out? Are you nodding your head to 3 or more items from this list of disorders below:
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue
- Irritable Bowel
- Migraines
- Alzheimers
- Chronic pain
- Bipolar
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Recurrent miscarriages
- Endometriosis
- Depression
- Insomnia
If this sounds like you, or someone you know and love, there is a simple answer! They could have a common (lesser known) genetic mutation called:
MethylTetraHydroFolate Reductase Deficiency
Why hasn’t my Doctor mentioned MTHFR?
If this methylation process is so important, why aren’t more doctors testing for it? That’s a million dollar question! The last I checked, there were over 4,000 studies on this gene mutation in the Pubmed database, which doesn’t even index several of the functional medicine journals. In my opinion, and that of many other experts, when you consider that this methylation issue involves a vitamin that is difficult to patent, you can quickly see why there is a lack of interest on the part of the traditional medical establishment and the pharmaceutical companies.
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What is MTHFR?
While you may not have heard of MTHFR, you have likely heard of the importance of folic acid, especially for women during pregnancy. You may have even heard about how a deficiency of folic acid can lead to an elevated biomarker known as homocysteine, which is associated with heart disease. MTHFR stands for methyltetrahydrofolate reductase, the enzyme that converts folic acid into its’ active form, methyltetrahydrofolate. Many nutrients that we ingest from food must be transformed by the body into a more active form that the body can easily use. Folic acid is a classic example of this scenario. Folic acid is involved in a very important group of reactions referred to as Methylation. Methylation has far-reaching effects: it’s involved in everything from heavy metal detoxification to the production of T-cells, immune cells that help us to ward off cancer, bacteria and viruses, among others. If your body can convert folic acid found in food and many supplements to its’ active form, all will be well. However, approximately 30% of the population has what is referred to as a mutation of the MTHFR gene, leading to the inability to process and use folic acid.
How does MTHFR mutation affect me?
MTHFR can make you susceptible to illness because the pathway is the primary source of glutathione production in the body. Glutathione is the body's primary antioxidant and detoxifier. People with MTHFR anomalies usually have low glutathione, which makes them more susceptible to stress and less tolerant to toxins. Without treatment people are more prone to viral infections because the Methylation process is critical in shutting off viral replication as well as retaining heavy metals and other environmental toxins.
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The issue is, the older we get, the harder it is for us to methylate – and it is methylation that is critical for detoxification, neurotransmitter formation, histamine breakdown, DNA production, and supporting the immune system.
How do I know if I have MTHFR?
You can easily find out if you have a MTHFR mutation by ordering a DNA test kit from 23andMe ($99) or check with your doctor /lab for testing options. Once you receive your results, go to Genetic Genie for methylation analysis (free).
Resources:
http://rawlins.org/mthfr/mthfr.html
http://www.brain-works.net/mthfrtreatment.html
