What is MTHFR?
MTHFR stands for Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase. It is a gene that produces an enzyme that converts folate into Methyl folate. There are lots of reactions that take place first. I’ll explain more in just a minute.
Why are we talking about this today? According to Dr. Ben Lynch and Dr. Allen Christianson, the vast majority of people with hypothyroidism have a defect in the MTHFR gene. In one of their lectures, they even go as far as to say from their research, 100% of the people with thyroid disease has this defect. This defect is present in half of the people in the US. Italians have a higher percentage of the gene in the population but do not suffer from its ill effects like we do here in the US. Why is that?
Let’s look at why this is an important topic.
MTHFR is the master methylator gene! But what is methylation?? Methylation is an important process in every cell of the body, especially the liver. It is a simple chemical reaction where a methyl group (CH3) from a Methyl donor adds a methyl group onto a protein to change its function so it works in the body. An example of a protein that needs to be methylated would be serotonin. Serotonin needs to be methylated before it can become Melatonin, that hormone that helps you sleep. Methylation is also needed to regulate gene activity. A methyl group is added to the DNA to turn off bad genes so it prevents it from being expressed. Methyl groups are added to toxins like heavy metals to prevent them from accumulating in the body and helps them to be excreted. Methylation is involved in cell repair, cell replication, DNA synthesis and repair. Our big methyl donor in our cells is called SAMe.
When you have optimal methylation, the systems of your body are working like they are supposed to work. The cardiovascular system is running smoothly with no buildup of plaque; the neurological system is making neurotransmitters, the reproductive system and the detoxification systems are working properly.
When methylation is not optimal, you have problems with DNA production, Neurotransmitter production (anxiety, depression, mood disorders), detoxification (toxins build up and inflammation increases), histamine metabolism (too much histamine in the body), estrogen metabolism (bad estrogens build up), eye health, fat metabolism (can’t lose fat), cellular energy (sluggish), liver health is compromised.
How do you know if you have the gene mutation? You can have your doctor test for MTHFR. It is a blood test that most labs will do. You can do genetic testing to determine if you have this mutation as well as others that might have the potential to influence your health, or you can just look at your family history. Do you have immediate family members with heart disease and the problems associated with heart disease or autoimmune diseases or neurological conditions? Do you have expended family members with heart disease or autoimmune issues? If so, there is a chance that you might have the gene. With 40-60% of the US having the potential to have the gene, chances are, the gene is present. If you ask your doctor to test for it and they say no, it’s because there is no drug protocol for this condition. It’s a matter of lifestyle and dietary changes. These changes are good for everyone!!!
I like to think about this as 3 interconnecting wheels or gears, each with their own biochemical reactions that interconnect and are dependent on the other. When one slows down it impacts the other wheels.
Middle Wheel
It starts with Folate at the top of the middle wheel. Folate comes from the word “foliage” which means plants. Green leafy vegetables are loaded with natural folate some of which is methyl folate. Folate is an umbrella term for all of the different types of folate. The other types of natural folate have to be converted to methylfolate to turn the wheel. Many enzymes and B vitamins are controlling this wheel. Lacking B vitamins will slow everything down.
As folate comes into the body through the plant food you eat, there are lots of reactions that convert it to methylfolate at the bottom of the middle wheel. MTHFR is responsible for the conversion. If you have one defective gene from just one of your parents, you slow the reaction down by 30%; hence, the wheel slows down. If you inherit 2 defective genes for MTHFR, one from both parents, you slow this reaction down by about 70%. This in turn, slows the other 2 connecting wheels so all of the reactions slow down. (I am talking specifically about the C677T position. There is another position, A1298C, that does not seem to have as big of a problems unless you have one of each.)
Let me talk about folic acid for a minute. Folic acid is a synthetic vitamin and is not metabolized completely and gunks up the pathway. We should avoid synthetic folic acid that is found in many vitamin supplements and in processed foods and enriched foods.
One of the things methylfolate does is to change homocysteine into SAMe through several chemical reactions seen here on the outside wheel (remember SAMe is our main methylator in the body). Then eventually SAMe turns back into homocysteine to turn the middle wheel.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that is high in red meats and dairy. When we consume too much red meat and dairy there could be a problem with levels of homocysteine that get too high, out of the optimal range. Red meat is high in B12 which we need but too much can be a problem. When there is too much homocysteine in the blood stream it is very irritating to the inside of the arteries. It causes plaque to build up and this leads to arteriosclerosis and all of the problems that comes from this. It leads to dementia and possibly Alzheimer’s disease. We want optimal levels and not high levels. You have to have it to produce SAMe! High levels of homocysteine is often called a silent killer because this happens before you have symptoms. Heart disease is the number one killer. People with MTHFR have a slower middle wheel and homocysteine can tend to build up and get too high so this is one of the reasons we should limit red meats and dairy. I’m not saying don’t eat red meat but don’t eat a steak that is half your plate either.
Outside Wheel
SAMe is produced on this side. SAMe is you major methylator to make proteins function in the body. To help with detoxification of heavy metals. It helps make important antioxidants like Glutathione that helps the cells detoxify so toxins do not build up and cause disease. If you have a low level of glutathione then you will have high levels of inflammation. If you look up diseases caused by inflammation on pubmed.gov there are thousands of diseases that pop up. Inflammation is the foundation of all disease.
Your immune system is impaired due to the toxic load and autoimmunity starts to take over.
Neurotransmitters are produced over here. If you don’t have good folate levels then it affects neurotransmitter production and you will suffer from anxiety, depression, ADHA, neurological conditions. You won’t sleep well, you can’t focus.
Other Outside Wheel
This is where Cell replication and repair takes place. DNA replication and repair is needed to grow new cells. Without good cell turnover, the body ages and cancer can pop up in the body.
It is important to say that just because you have a MTHFR gene mutation, you are not destined to have the problems associated with this condition. There are many things that you can do to keep yourself healthy. You are in control! Always remember this! The new field of science called Epigenetics looks at how the food you eat influences gene expression. It is a fascinating area of research!
So how do you improve your methylation pathway? We are going to give you 3 action points today.
Everything starts with folate. Making sure you get enough folate in your diet. Always start with diet!! Eat your organic leafy greens raw or slightly sautéed. Boiling destroys the folate. Other foods high in folate and B vitamins are blueberries, asparagus, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, nuts and seeds, eggs, clean organic animal proteins. This is probably why Italians have a lower incidence of diseases associated with this defect because their diet is loaded in fresh vegetables and salads.
Get rid of Folic acid in the diet. Avoid processed foods that are enriched with folic acid. Read labels on your multivitamin.
Lower the toxins coming into your body! Use clean products, eat organic food. Help the body by not adding to its burden of getting rid of the toxins that are already present.
We cover this in more detail in our book and we have a program associated with that. Fill out our questionnaire and set up a free consultation call to discuss how we can help you reach your health goals.
