Day 12 of 12 Education:

MTHFR.

What did you say? Is that some new abbreviated way of cursing?

No, but it sometimes feels like it. As a genetic counselor who had to start dealing with all the MTHFR variants showing up in prenatal clinic 25 years ago, I developed a real love/hate relationship with this gene.

The MTHFR gene produces an enzyme that is involved in processing folate and in converting the amino acid homocysteine to the amino acid methionine. If you have two copies of a variant called C677T, then you make only ~30% of the normal amount of MTHFR enzyme.

Reduced amounts of MTHFR enzyme have been linked to an increased risk for spina bifida in babies and has also been blamed for nearly every health condition that is known to man (or so it would seem if you searched the internet).

The truth is MTHFR does not exactly cause all these conditions, but it may contribute, as MTHFR does not act in a vacuum. The MTHFR pathway is intricately linked with many other pathways in the body, including neurotransmitter production, DNA synthesis, and detoxification. It is likely a combination of variants in MTHFR along with variants in other genes involved in the production of neurotransmitters and DNA synthesis that lends to MTHFR being associated with mood disorders, ADHD and some other conditions.

A nutrigenomics test gives you insight beyond MTHFR. Often supplementing with just folic acid, or preferably methyl-folate, will not be adequate. You may need to ensure adequate intake of other nutrients, such as B vitamins and choline to optimize brain function.

Remember, the nutrigenomics test looks at more than 130 genes and can give incredible insight to many of your body’s processes.

What are you waiting for?