What do you think is the most important process that each human being goes through every day? And it happens 300 billion times a day?
It is the process of methylation, a chemical process that adds methyl groups (small chemical groups composed of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms) to molecules, such as DNA, proteins and lipids.
I am sure most of you have not heard of this MTHFR gene and it is sadly due to the fact that most of the medical field either do not know anything about it or they are simply ignorant. And despite more information and research into it, the medical field still says it is not enough to merit a diagnosis.
But as I like to do with this blog, is bring light to health matters that aren’t necessarily discussed or revealed. I never know if someone who is reading this is suffering with an ailment that doctors can’t diagnose and then get caught up in the cycle of going from specialist to specialist, test to test and then passed around in circles again.
So let’s dive in!
WHAT IS MTHFR
MTHFR stands for Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase.
According to Google, MTHFR is defined as: an enzyme that helps process amino acids and is involved in folate metabolism
According to Gary Brecka, a biologist and author: “The MTHFR gene takes folate and synthetic folic acid, these two forms of Vitamin B9, and it converts them into the active form. Both go through the same process of being broken down and converted into the usable version called 5-Methylfolate. 5-Methylfolate has the fast pass ticket to your cellular biology so that micronutrients go directly into the cell at a tenfold increase and allows your cellular biology to function normally.”
In simpler terms, it is the body’s ability to process folate.
But when was the MTHFR gene discovered and by whom?
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international scientific research project that ran from 1990-2003 and consisted of scientists around the world. It was within this project and by their mapping and sequencing of the human genome, that they discovered the MTHFR gene; specifically after finding C677T (a single nucleotide polymorphism) in 1995 and then the A1298C (a variant where the DNA base adenine is replaced by cytosine at position 1298) in 2001. Both were found to be contained within a gene called MTHFR.
The discovery of MTHFR in 1995 has led to more and more research regarding this gene and its role in our health.
Each person is born with two MTHFR genes; one from the mother and one from the father. But did you know that there is such as a thing as a mutated MTHFR gene? And mutated MTHFR genes can be passed down to children?
MTHFR GENE MUTATION
The MTHFR gene mutation is one of the most common genetic variations found in the populations of the world. Many people carry at least one mutated MTHFR gene. Some exhibit symptoms from it and others do not.
According to WebMD.com, the C677T and the A1298C (as mentioned above and founded by the HGP) are two of the most common MTHFR gene mutations. Regarding C677T, 40% of Whites and Hispanics have this mutation. Regarding A1298C, about 7%-12% of North American, European and Australian people have this mutation; it is less common amongst Hispanics and Asians.
Individuals with the MTHFR gene mutation CANNOT process folic acid as the mutation inhibits the body’s processing of folic acid.
Folic acid is an important, if not the most important, vitamin. It used in in red blood cell formation and for healthy cell growth and formation. Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate, a B vitamin.
Folate is responsible for:
- tissue growth
- cell growth
- red blood cell growth
- with B12 and Vitamin C, creates proteins
- produces DNA
In the role of pregnancy, folic acid (folate) is responsible for the formation of the baby’s neural tube, the brain and the spine. It helps to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) and other birth defects.
Unfortunately, people with the MTHFR mutation deny their cells of folic acid and this can cause “Reversible S-Phase Arrest” which Gary Brecka explains:
“Think of DNA as a ladder. You climb up and down this ladder. You take this ladder and twist it and you shove it into the nucleus of every single cell in the human body. We have an estimated 32 trillion cells in our body and inside the nucleus of every cell is this twisted ladder of DNA. What this twisted ladder does is a few things. It writes messages into the cell to make certain proteins. That’s called transcription. Those messages are called mRNA. If you’ve heard of the mRNA vaccine, it is a synthetic copy of a message from your DNA to make a certain protein. A messenger RNA.
It also unzips right down the center and creates an exact copy of itself. So that is called replication. This is why one cell in your body can divide and become two identical cells. So when this ladder unzips, just like the zipper on your jacket, as it unzips, it’s very important that these teeth line up when you zip it up again. So imagine this ladder starting to stitch it itself back together; all of these amino acid sequences in this ladder starting to come back together, what if you are deficient in a certain raw material, specifically methyl folate (5-Methylfolate), then what happens is these two rungs do not line up. When they don’t line up, the cell enters something called S-Phase Arrest.
This is a protective mechanism so that genetic mutations don’t promulgate so that cancers and viruses are silenced so that an impaired DNA with a sequence missing doesn’t continue to divide . It’s the checks and balances system God designed to make sure that a limited number of mutations will be expressed.
However, when 5-Methylfolate is missing, the DNA goes into something called S-Phase Arrest which is reversible. It is reversible by supplementing with 5-Methylfolate, not folic acid.”
This post is very personal to me as I discovered via blood work done through a naturopathic doctor, I have a double mutated MTHFR gene, meaning each of my parents have one mutated gene and both were passed down to me so I have two.
Here is my blood test result from 2019 regarding the double mutation:
MTHFR SIDE EFFECTS
According to Behavioral Health Consulting Solutions: ” When mutations occur in the MTHFR gene, the conversion efficiency of folate is compromised, leading to potential increases in homocysteine levels, known as hyper-homocysteinemia. Elevated homocysteine is linked to various health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and potentially an increased risk of certain cancers. More subtly, these disruptions can influence neurological health, contributing to the development of psychiatric conditions and cognitive impairments. The impact of MTHFR mutations extends beyond physical health, deeply influencing neurological and mental wellness. The enzyme’s role in neurotransmitter synthesis is crucial. By affecting folate metabolism, MTHFR mutations can lead to abnormal levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are key regulators of mood and cognitive functions. This disruption is a potential pathway through which MTHFR mutations could contribute to depression, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism. The broad influence of MTHFR on health is also seen in its role in controlling levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that at high levels can cause inflammation and damage to blood vessels. This can lead to health issues such as blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Proper management of homocysteine levels through adequate folate intake is thus essential for maintaining cardiovascular health.“
Anxiety runs through my family and I am no stranger to it either as I was diagnosed with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) back in 2019 and have been taking a SSRI daily since. So knowing that I have the double mutation, it makes sense to me now as to why I was diagnosed with anxiety as this mutation is a direct cause of neurological issues including anxiety.
A full list of symptoms of the MTHR gene include:
- increased risk of cardiovascular issues (heart disease, stroke)
- increased inflammation (fibromyalgia, arthritis, achy joints)
- high blood pressure
- inability to detoxify via the liver (esp. heavy metals)
- neurotransmitter issues (serotonin, melatonin, dopamine)
- folate deficiency
- high homocysteine levels
- anxiety
- depression
- sleep disorders
- mood swings
- addictive behaviors
- fatigue
- miscarriage
- abnormal blood clotting
- autoimmune disease
- eye problems (glaucoma)
- developmental delays
- leaky gut
- thyroid issues
- hormonal imbalances
- gluten intolerance
- migraines
- seizures
- brain fog/memory issues
- behavioral problems
- inhibited growth
BHCS also stated that the MTHR gene mutation may be in connection to other mental disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
MTHFR AND AUTISM
About 91% of children diagnosed with autism possess a MTHFR gene mutation. Studies have shown that children with autism do indeed possess a slower, weaker detoxification process within their bodies. The MTHFR gene mutation inhibits the body’s detoxifying process as the body is not able to rid harmful toxins and metals as quickly as other who do not have the MTHFR gene mutation. This can lead to health issues.
A 2021 study was conducted on 1,500 Chinese Han children who were diagnosed with autism. The objective was to “explore the association of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism with birth body mass and risk of autism in Chinese Han population.“
What was the result? You can read the full study here, but it showed: “the results showed that sex, MTHFR C677T polymorphism, birth body mass, and interaction between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and birth body mass all significantly increased the risk of autism. The present study found that the MTHFR 677T was significantly associated with risk of autism.“
The National Library of Medicine posted a study conducted on two biological siblings who were found to have mutated MTHFR genes and were diagnosed with ASD. After taking the 5-Methylfolate, their behaviors greatly improved. You can read the study here.
Environmental toxins and heavy metals such as Hg (mercury), Pb (lead), As (arsenic), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and toluene are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. These toxins/metals can be consumed via air, water, food, medicines and vaccines.
In my previous post about fluoridated water, I also elaborate what kinds of toxins are in our drinking water and how they may be impacting the neural health of our children. Click here to read.
MTHFR AND VACCINES
Speaking of vaccines…
What about the vaccines given to babies shortly after birth? Those vaccines which include DTap, Hepatitis B, PCV and Tetanus, all have trace amounts of aluminum in them so babies (and children due to the multiple rounds of these vaccines) are instantly exposed to this metal. The aluminum is used as an adjuvant; to create a stronger immune response to the vaccine’s germ. And if these babies/children do have an MTHFR gene mutation, it will be harder for their bodies to detoxify effectively, causing some aluminum to infiltrate the brain which, in turn, can lead to neurological issues like Encephalitis, brain inflammation.
In a previous post regarding the breakdown of the COVID-19 vaccine, I also discussed what exactly are in vaccines and their reported negative side effects on our health. You can read Part One here and Part Two here.
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, an OH medical doctor who has been lambasted by the media and called a conspiracy theorist due to her statements concerning vaccines, said in an interview:
“When I was a board-certified emergency medical physician working in the E.R, I really thought the only thing in a vaccine was was a little dead virus and a little bit of normal saline. It wasn’t until September 2000 that I actually read a package insert and when I actually read it, and started researching all the different vaccines, I was mortified. If a child gets all of the vaccines in the entire schedule, they get almost 13,000 micrograms of aluminum and they get almost 600 micrograms of mercury plus over 200 different chemicals.“
On a side note….let’s not forget that formaldehyde is also present in these vaccines; not a metal, but still a toxin.
There have been reports of parents stating that after the vaccination of their children, they have noticed developmental regression and/or speech loss which has also been linked to the “DTaP Scream”, a term for the long duration of crying that occurs after the administration of the Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis vaccine.
Pregnant mothers who are Rh-negative, are normally given a shot of RhoGAM, a pharmaceutical that prevents the body from producing antibodies from attacking Rh-positive blood cells. This drug prevents the mother’s immune system from reacting to the fetal blood and developing antibodies that could endanger the pregnancy.
But, RhoGAM contains traces of mercury and aluminum!
And what about the Vitamin K injection also given to pregnant women? It also contains traces of aluminum.
It appears there is a strong connection between vaccines, heavy metals and autism. These coupled with the presence of the MTHFR gene mutation, raises the risk of all sorts of health issues.
Experts from Bradstreet and Geir, have performed research that has shown that children with the MTHFR gene mutation (compared to their peers), excrete significantly higher levels of heavy metals during a process called “chelation therapy”, a procedure that removes heavy metals and toxins from the body via the urine. This suggests that these children face much greater challenges in detoxifying naturally.
If you are curious to see if you have the MTHFR gene mutation, talk to your doctor about doing a blood test. A genetic test is also another option. If you do select the genetic testing option be sure to also test for not only MTHFR but for COMT, VDR and MTR. The genetic testing can cost between $60-$80.
MTHFR SUPPORT
Even though we are in the 21st century, there is nothing you can ingest or inject to “fix” your genes. People with the MTHFR gene mutation have to learn to live with it; however, there are some things given by Dr. Eric Berg you can do to lessen symptoms and prevent any future health issues.
- avoid folic acid as it does not convert correctly
- avoid gluten
- avoid processed foods
- avoid sugar, soy and conventional dairy
- avoid alcohol
- avoid medications that deplete folate (birth control, antacids, ibuprofen, aspirin, anticonvulsants, Metformin, antidepressants)
- take a methyl-folate supplement
- take methyl-cobalamin (B12) supplement
- take NAC for liver detoxification
- take Glutathione Reduced for liver health
- eat dark, leafy veggies (chard, spinach, kale)
- eat organic/grass-fed foods to avoid metals/toxins
- drink purified water to avoid metals
There is so much information regarding MTHFR and its gene mutation so I encourage you investigate on your own and if you feel like you should be tested just to see if you have one or two mutated MTHFR genes, I encourage you to do so. It is just a one-time test and you will be pleased you did it!
And if you do have a mutated MTHFR gene, I highly recommend making an appointment with a naturopathic doctor (ND) so that he/she can map out a supplement, diet and healthy living plan so you can live your best life and avoid any future complications.
Finally, visit the MTHFR Gene Support website at: https://mthfrgenesupport.com/ for more information.
Leave a Reply