Methylenetetrahydrofolatereductase
(MTHFR) is an enzyme that assists in the breakdown and the use of folate in the
body.
Homocysteine (an amino acid that
assists cell upkeep) is converted to methionine by methylfolate (helps with
growth and tissue repair).Every human is surely having the gene 5-methyltetrahydrofolate,
which is also called MTHFR. It's responsible for the breakdown of folic acid,
which creates folate. Some health conditions and disorders can result without
enough folate, or with a malfunctioning gene.
A mutated MTHFR gene can cause
homocysteine levels to build up in the blood, leading to homocystinuria.
Consuming 400 mcg of folic acid each day can help prevent neural tube defects
even if you have this gene mutation.
During Pregnancy Period:
During pregnancy, women who test
positive for a mutated MTHFR gene may have a higher risk for miscarriages, or a
baby born with birth defects. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a condition where the
homocysteine levels in the body are elevated. There are different types of
mutations that can happen with this gene, some of which can affect pregnancy.
Women who've had multiple pregnancy losses often test positive for a mutation
that can cause pregnancy loss. If your kid was born with neural tube problems
or you've had recurrent miscarriages, you may need to be examined.Many women go
on to have normal pregnancies, even if they test positive current pregnancy
loss.
Precautions:
If you have a positive MTHFR gene mutation and want to start planning for a baby, you
should take 1000
mcg of L-methylfolate the day you
start.Your doctor may recommend taking more than 400 mg a day if you are in the
high-risk category. If you are at risk of developing an underdeveloped brain or
nervous system, or have a family member who is at risk, there are ways you can
increase the amount of folate in your blood by eating more folate-rich foods and
supplementing with folic acid or by adding folic acid to your regular diet.
Vaccine for MTHFR:
The American College of Medical
Genetics and Genomics does not recommend testing for MTHFR, but other genes
that might explain some diseases are not worth testing for. "Without a big
picture, without knowing the full story, they can exploit the information,"
genetics counselor says. And today, thanks to mail-in DNA tests, it's quite
simple for anyone to be tested.
When California abolished personal and
religious exemptions from vaccinations in 2016, interest in MTHFR and vaccines
seemed to spike. Doctors could still grant medical exemptions, and anti-vaccine
websites began to discuss probable justifications. MTHFR was one of numerous
genes mentioned, and they cited Crowe and Reif's article as a proof.
(Interestingly, the research also discovered a second gene named IRF1, although
the spotlight has always been on MTHFR, maybe because the latter gene was
already well-known among naturopathic physicians.
References:
1. Crider KS, Devine O, Hao L, et al. Population
red blood cell folate concentrations for prevention of neural tube defects:
Bayesian model. BMJ. 2014;349:g4554.
