What's all this about methylation & MTHFR gene??

Why methylation is important to your body

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello again. Welcome to another Small Bytes Production, a podcast where you can get your health information in small podcast bites of about 15 minutes. I'm your host, Dr. Brian Wallum. One thing I want to cover today, or the thing I want to cover today, is you've seen a lot of it on Facebook and the news. I've seen ads for news supplements, and people say I have the MTHFR mutation, or my methylation isn't working properly. Sometimes it's talked about as if it's a serious health threat, and other times it's dismissed completely. So what's the truth? So in this episode, I want to go over it with you what methylation actually is, what is the MTHFR gene and what it does, and whether its mutations are dangerous, and what realistically you can do about it. So let's start with what is methylation. First, we just need to understand it. Methylation is one of the most important biological processes happening in your body every second of the day. And its simplest, at its simplest, methylation is a transfer of small methyl groups called a methyl group, it's a chemical group, which is one carbon and three hydrogens from one molecule to another. Okay, that sounds technical, but the effects are massive. Methylation helps regulate gene expression, detoxification in the liver, neurotransmitter production like dopamine and serotonin, immune function, DNA repair, hormone metabolism, energy production. In fact, scientists estimate methylation is involved in hundreds of essential biochemical reactions throughout the body. You can think of methylation as kind of a master switchboard that turns different biological processes on and off. And if methylation isn't functioning properly, it can affect everything from mood and energy to heart health. But here's the key point methylation is not controlled by just one gene. It's part of a large network of enzymes and nutrients working together. And one of the most talked-about players in that network is the MTHFR gene, and that's mostly due to these companies like 23 and me who test your DNA, and they started discovering a variant, but they put the term on it mutation, and that got everybody freaked out. So MTHFR stands for methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase. It's an enzyme, yeah, it's a mouthful. The MTHFR gene provides instructions for making an enzyme that helps convert one form of folate, vitamin B9, into its active form. Specifically, it converts folate into five methyl tetrahydrofolate, often called five MTHF. This active form of folate is critical because it helps recycle an amino acid histamine into another amino acid, methionine. That matters because elevated homocysteine levels have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. So in simple terms, the MTHFR enzyme helps the body process fole, support methylation, keep homocysteine levels balanced. When the gene works normally, this process runs smoothly. But many people carry genetic variations, often called polymorphisms, in the MTHFR gene. Two common variants you'll hear or read about are C six seven seven one and A1298C. These variants can reduce how efficiently the enzyme works. For example, people with two copies of C six seven seven T variant may have about a thirty to forty percent reduced enzyme activity compared to the typical version. But here's something important that always gets overlooked, often gets overlooked, I shouldn't say always. Those variants are extremely common. Large population studies suggest that thirty to sixty percent of people worldwide, excuse me, worldwide, carry at least one of the MTHFR variant. So if having an MTHFR variant or mutation, it should be called a variant, were automatically dangerous, a huge portion of the global population would be in serious trouble. And that's not what the evidence shows. Most people with MTHFR variants live completely normal, healthy lives. So is the MTHFR dangerous? Well, this is where it can get confusing on Dr. Google. Some sources claim that MTHFR mutations cause a long list of problems, everything from depression and infertility to chronic fatigue and immune autoimmune disease. But the scientific consensus is much more cautious. Current research shows that the MTHFR variant can influence certain biochemical markers, like homocysteine levels, particularly when folate intake is low. But for most people, the effects are modest and manageable. In fact, one of the reasons many countries began fortifying grains with folic acid in the nineteen nineties was to reduce the risk of neural tube defects during pregnancy, especially in people who might have produced folate metabolism. Remember, folate is B9. Once folate intake improved at the population level, many of the risk associated with MTHRFR variants decreased dramatically. So the gene itself isn't necessarily dangerous. What matters more, and I've said this in other podcasts, is nutritional status and overall metabolic health. So nutrients that support methylation. These include vitamin B9, vitamin B twelve, vitamin B six, riboflavin, which is B2, choline and betaine. These nutrients help move methyl groups through what's called the methylation cycle. You can get many of those in our neutraplex beef food formula on this website. For example, folate and B12 help convert homocysteine into methionine. And SAME is involved in hundreds of methylation reactions throughout the body. This means that supporting methylation is often less about fixing a gene and more about supporting the entire biochemical pathway. And that is best done with whole foods. You should be tested or should you be tested for MTHFR. Genetic testing for MTHFR has become widely available through consumer DNA services, which I mentioned earlier. But many medical organizations, including groups like the American College of Genetics and Genomics, generally don't recommend routine MTHFR testing for most people. That's because knowing you have the variant usually doesn't change medical treatment. Instead, doctors typically focus on measurable markers, like homocysteine levels, B vitamin status, and overall health. Those tests often provide more actionable information. So practical takeaways. What should you do actually do with all this information? First, let's focus on diet and nutrient intake. Foods rich now foods rich in natural folate include leafy greens, beans and lentils, avocados, asparagus, citrus fruits. Also, you can fortify your nutrients by going to the store on this website and getting our NutriPlex beef food formula. Everything is made of whole foods. Second, you're making sure you're getting adequate B vitamins, particularly B twelve, especially if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Third, maintain overall metabolic health through sleep, exercise, and stress management. You've heard me say that many times before. These lifestyle factors influence methylation just as much, if not more, than genetics. And finally, remember that genes are not destiny. Your body has multiple pathways and backup systems that help maintain balance. Methylation is a fundamental process that supports many aspects of human biology from gene regulation to brain chemistry. And the MF I'm sorry, MTHFR gene plays a role in that system by helping activate folate and helping regulate homocysteine levels. But while genetic variants in MTHFR are common, they're not usually a medical emergency or a major health threat. In most cases, good nutrition, a healthy lifestyle, good habits, and provide the support your methylation pathways need. So instead of fearing your genes, the better approach is understanding how your biology works and giving your body the tools it needs to function well. And remember, ignore your health and it will go away. Who's going to take responsibility for your health if not you? Please ponder this until our next podcast together. Until then, think good thoughts. This is Dr. B signing off.