MTHFR mutations can affect how your body utilizes B9. This article discusses the different forms of folate and the role it plays in methylation.
MTHFR
MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. It is a gene that encodes an enzyme by the same name. This enzyme is involved in the methylation pathway. Methylation is a biological chemical process that takes place billions of times over in your body each day. A methyl group consisting of one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms is added to a molecule to carry out many different biological processes in the body. With these donors,the body can do things like make hormones, neurotransmitters, DNA repair, switch genes on and off and provide energy.
MTHFR C677T and A1298C are two of the most studied MTHFR variants. Individuals with mutations in these variants may have reduced enzyme activity, leading to lower levels of 5-MTHF and potential issues with methylation.
Folate is the hero in the Folate cycle and is needed to donate a methyl group to the methionine cycle in which B12 is the hero. Both these nutrients, folate and B12 play crucial roles that rely on each other in order to make methylation function correctly.
Not everyone with these variants needs supplementation. It will depend on the individuals diet, lifestyle, genetic mutations and specific health needs. The best way to find out if you need MTHFR support is through a panel of blood tests, such as homocysteine, serum and RBC folate, Serum B12 and MMA.
The Different types of B9
There are a few different kinds of folate. When we talk about folate, we generally refer to the nutrient of B9 which is naturally found in food sources.
Folic acid is the synthetic, mad-made kind that was originally created to enrich food as a way to prevent Neural tube defects in pregnancy. It was given its name in 1941, when it was isolated from spinach.
Methylfolate is a bioavailable form of folate. It is also called 5-MTHF or L-5-MTHF. It has already been methylated or converted which means it is biovailable without having to go through the MTHFR enzyme for conversion. Your body can use it straight away.
Folinic acid does not require the MTHFR enzyme for initial conversion. It is found in small amount in food and can still enter the cycle, but not all of it used by MTHFR, some of it goes directly to DNA synthesis.
In discovering you need support through supplementation with folate (B9), some of the most asked questions are:
- How much folate should I take?
- How can I increase folate in my diet?
- What form of folate is best for me?
- Do I need to take B12 with folate?
- How do I know I need to supplement?
- who should avoid folic acid?
- Who should avoid folinic acid?
- Who should avoid methylfolate?
- can taking too much folate cause a B12 deficiency?
- Can taking folate mask a B12 deficiency?
- what other genes are involved in folate metabolism?
- what is the folate trap?
- How does MTHFD1 and DHFR influence my folate metabolism?
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