MTHFR gene mutation
What is it and do you have it?
MTHFR stands for methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase. Methyl groups (made up of one carbon and 3 hydrogen atoms) are required for a huge range of functions in the body. Methylation is the addition of this methyl group to another molecule. Methyl groups:
•Are the on/off switches for many cells activities. They turn genes on and off.
•Turn enzymes on and off.
•Turn neurotransmitters on and off (serotonin, dopamine).
•Turn on tissue repair.
•Turn off inflammation.
•Turn on and off the stress response.
•Reduce the aging process because they protect telomeres.
•Detoxify chemicals and importantly help supply glutathione which is the body’s most important anti-oxidant helping to break down xeno-oestrogens and assisting with your phase-2 liver detoxification.
•Give us our energy because we need methyl groups to help our energy cycle create carnitine, Co Q10 and ATP and support mitochondrial energy.
If you are short of methyl groups your body cannot respond to whatever nutrients, vitamins, minerals or herbs you put in your body. So chronic disease can be far more likely to develop .
Add to this our way of life which also affects methylation.
•There is a huge array of cellular damage from our toxic environment which damages cellular function. Mobile phones, planes, radiation, water pollutants, industrial wastes, pesticides, cosmetics. These build up to a point where our body’s self-regulatory processes break down and chronic disease results.
•Genetically modified foods damage DNA.
•Environmental pollutants like Bisphenol A in plastics.
•Stress – stress uses up many methyl groups so if there are not enough and we have a mutation that stops us creating them we are in trouble. If the stress response is using up the methyl groups then this shortage will affect other systems like the brain, thyroid function, fatigue etc. Sometimes the stress response turns off but it doesn’t have enough methylation to turn it off. An inability to stop, relax and do nothing can result.
•Ageing – methyl groups decline with age. So cognitive decline, dementia for example, can be greater if we have a decrease of methyl groups.
What family history maybe present?
•You might be suffering from any of the conditions found in more detail:- http://www.mthfrsupport.com.au/conditions/
•You might have long standing fatigue, and just don’t feel good even though you have had many tests and many doctors/specialists/practitioners have said that there is nothing wrong with you
•You may have female members of your family that have had a miscarriage or multiple miscarriages, or who have given birth to a child with Neural Tube Defects, cleft lip/palate or Down syndrome
•You may have family members with issues with their cardiovascular system like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis
•You may have a family history of depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, suicide
•You or your family members may have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD
•You may have had learning difficulties at school / you may find it hard to concentrate
•You may have issues with inflammation/ diabetes/chronic pain
•You may have elevated liver enzymes in blood testing
•You may have elevated red cell folate in blood testing
•You may have chronic constipation
•You may have low B12 levels
•You may suffer dizziness
•You may have elevated homocysteine levels
•You may be on drugs that deplete your B12 and/or folate levels like antacids, cholestyramine, methotrexate, nitrous oxide, high dose niacin, theophylline, Cyclosporin A, metformin, phenytoin, oral contraceptives, antimalarials, antibiotic Trimethoprim, ethanol, Bactrim, sulfasalazine, triamterene.
If you suspect you may have this gene a simple cost effective test can confirm valuable knowledge for you and your family. Call today for a consultation and test request-melroesplace 0429619915
