MTHFR Gene: All About The Genetic Mutation That Affects 40% Of The World

Mthfr Genes

Genes are the specific instructions that make you who you are. They are sections of DNA, your body’s master manual, and at the latest estimate, there are around 20,000 genes in the human genome. But genes, like humans, are imperfect, and often have mutations (or more accurately put, variations, but people often use the two terms interchangeably) that can cause everything from eye color to whether or not you have straight or curly hair.

These variations can also predispose you to certain health conditions and diseases, cause you to metabolize coffee too quickly or too slowly, and mess with the way your body manages complex biochemical processes, including enzyme production.

One of those genes, known as the MTHFR gene, can have variations that can specifically interfere with your ability to absorb certain vitamins and detox efficiently. About 40% of us have this mutation, myself included, and it can predispose you to a bunch of different health issues. Let’s look at what it’s all about, and especially, what you can do about it.

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What is the MTHFR gene mutation?

What did you call me? Just kidding, MTHFR is not an expletive. The acronym that names this gene provides instructions for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, the enzyme used to convert folic acid (vitamin B9) into folate’s active form, methyl-folate (5MTHF). See why MTHFR is easier to say?

What’s not so easy is understanding how activated methyl-folate plays a key role in a biochemical process called methylation. Methylation is the powerhouse detoxification, production, and DNA protection system that almost every cell of your body depends on. It happens more than 1 billion times per second in your body to keep you alive and healthy, and so you can see why, if methylation is not working well, a lot can go wrong.

One of the ways methylation can become less efficient and effective is when you have an MTHFR gene mutation, because then your body doesn’t send all the instructions to make the important enzyme you need. Some research estimates (1) that those of us with MTHFR changes make up to 70 percent less methyl-folate than those without the mutation!

Types of MTHFR gene mutations

There are two ways to have the MTHFR mutation – you can be heterozygous, meaning you have one mutation, or homozygous, meaning you have two mutations. Homozygous mutations are more severe and will cause more problems with methylation, but heterozygous mutations can also be problematic.

There are two main types of MTHFR mutations – A1298C and C677T. 

  • C677T Mutation: This mutation involves a change at position 677 in the MTHFR gene, where cytosine (C) is replaced by thymine (T). Alterations in this gene can lead to high levels of inflammatory homocysteine which is linked to heart disease and autoimmune conditions.
  • A1298C Mutation: This mutation involves a change at position 1298 in the MTHFR gene, where adenine (A) is replaced by cytosine (C). With this mutation, mood disorders are common since it plays a vital role in neurotransmitter function.

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How does the MTHFR mutation affect your health?

You may be wondering how you can tell if you have an MTHFR mutation (or two). Many health issues can hint at this. Research has shown an association between MTHFR mutations and the following issues (among others):

How do I know if I have the MTHFR gene mutation?

Out of the estimated 40 percent (8) of people with a MTHFR mutation most don’t know they have it. I just so happen to be one of the four in ten people who have this genetic change and I know this because I got tested. If you’re concerned, consider asking your functional medicine doctor about the following lab tests:

  • DNA Methylation Pathway Profile: This test looks at around 30 methylation SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms). Because it looks for DNA mutations that govern methylation, these results can give you a personalized guide to what your unique genetic weaknesses and imbalances are so that you can address them specifically.
  • Homocysteine: Most of the medical literature correlating health problems with methylation impairments is centered around the amino acid homocysteine, which needs to be recycled down by methylation. When homocysteine levels are elevated, inflammation is the result, and chronically elevated homocysteine is a risk factor for heart disease.
  • Microbiome Labs: Underlying gut problems such as bacterial imbalances and candida overgrowth can exacerbate methylation problems.
  • Urine Amino Acid Labs: This lab assesses for several biomarkers such as glutamate and ammonia, which can be high with certain methylation mutations.
  • Hair Metal Testing: We use HMT to assess lithium levels. Lithium plays a vital role in mood, as well as B12 transport.

Risk factors for MTHFR mutation

It ultimately all comes back to genetic inheritance and your ethnicity. Everyone has two MTHFR genes, each one inherited by each one of your parents. Mutations can occur in one or both of these genes and people whose parents both have a MTHFR mutation are more likely to have a homozygous mutation. Also, certain ethnic groups exhibit higher rates of MTHFR mutations, most notably among people of Hispanic descent as the MTHFR C677T variant is highest (9) among Hispanic individuals, according to the CDC.

What else can you do?

There are many active steps you can take to make up for what your body lacks. Here are my favorite effective strategies for dealing with the fallout from an MTHFR mutation:

1. Avoid synthetic folic acid

Steering clear of foods and supplements with added folic acid is important for anyone with MTHFR mutations, since it could be toxic in these people. Be sure to read labels on anything you eat or take. Natural folate is what you need more of, not folic acid.

2. Take activated B vitamins

B vitamins are fuel for methylation so supplementing with B vitamins can be a simple way to support this important process. However, not all supplements are created equally. In fact, folic acid in particular can be toxic for anyone with an MTHFR mutation. Instead, natural folate and activated forms of B vitamins are your best bet.

As someone with an MTHFR gene mutation myself, I saw the need for this next-level supplement but I wasn’t finding one on the market. That’s why I personally curated The Methylator’s comprehensive formula with the highest quality B vitamins including folate (5-Methyltetrahydrofolate), B6 (Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate), B12 (methylcobalamin), B2 (Riboflavin 5′ phosphate), and anhydrous betaine (trimethylglycine).

3. Eat more green, leafy vegetables and organ meat

Greens like spinach, okra, and turnip greens have many health benefits, including a high natural folate content. Also, organ meats like chicken liver and grass-fed beef liver have the highest levels of bioavailable B vitamins of any food.

4. Eat at least three cups of sulfur-rich vegetables every day

Full of nutrients, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and asparagus also support methylation. A warning, however: If you are sensitive to FODMAPS, a common food intolerance of certain types of carbohydrates, you may not tolerate these vegetables very well. In that case, work on healing your gut before introducing smaller amounts of these. You may be able to work up to 3 cups over time, as you heal.

5. Supplement to balance glutamate and GABA levels

Excess glutamate (10) (your excitatory neurotransmitter) relative to GABA (your calming neurotransmitter) is common with methylation impairments. Glutamate imbalances are linked with chronic fatigue (11) and fibromyalgia. (12) If you feel nervous, anxious, fatigued, or unable to sleep, an imbalance of glutamate to GABA may be an issue for you.

To support the balance, I typically use blends of L-theanine, L-carnosine, resveratrol, pterostilbene, and extracts of magnolia bark, chamomile jujube seed, lemon balm, nettle leaf, sweet orange peel, passion flower, and skullcap root. I recommend talking to your health professional about what supplements and dosages might be best for you.

6. Supplement to keep lithium balanced

Lithium not only plays a role (13) in mood, energy levels, and glutamate balance, but research also suggests its involvement in B12 transport and in turn, methylation. Consider asking your doctor if supplementing with low-dose lithium orotate could help improve your mood, energy, and overall well-being.

7. Calm inflammation and support detoxification

Natural medicines such as curcumin, (14) resveratrol, (15) phosphatidylserine, (16) super oxide dismutase, (17) n-acetyl cysteine, (18) and alpha lipoic acid (19) can help promote healthy detox pathways, dampen inflammation, and promote antioxidant functions in the body. Find them in the supplement section of your health food or well-stocked grocery store.

8. Avoid B vitamin-depleting medications

Birth control pills can interfere with folate metabolism, and antacids can decrease (20) B12 absorption. Talk with your doctor about what is right for you.

9. Find the right B12 for you

Depending on your specific MTHFR polymorphisms, you may tolerate certain types of B12 better than others. Working with a qualified practitioner can help determine if methyl B12, hydroxycobalamin B12, adenosynl B12, or cyano B12 is best for you.

10. Manage your stress

Studies have shown (21) that stress can alter the methylation of DNA, which in turn can alter the activity of certain genes. Mindfulness meditation, yoga, and tai chi are all effective ways to buffer the stress in your life.

11. Avoid toxins

People with MTHFR changes have a harder time detoxing from the pollution of a toxic world, so avoid toxins as well as you can in what you eat, put on your skin, and breathe.

12. Consider working with a functional medicine practitioner

Since everyone is different, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” with MTHFR mutations. Healing is a journey and there are no quick fixes. A functional medicine practitioner can take your entire health case into account.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

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References:

  1. Sibani, S et al. “Characterization of six novel mutations in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in patients with homocystinuria.” Human mutation vol. 15,3 (2000): 280-7. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-1004(200003)15:3<280::AID-HUMU9>3.0.CO;2-I
  2. Krull, Kevin R et al. “Folate pathway genetic polymorphisms are related to attention disorders in childhood leukemia survivors.” The Journal of pediatrics vol. 152,1 (2008): 101-5. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.05.047
  3. Pu, Danhua et al. “Association between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and the risk of autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis.” Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research vol. 6,5 (2013): 384-92. doi:10.1002/aur.1300
  4. Richardson, Bruce. “DNA methylation and autoimmune disease.” Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) vol. 109,1 (2003): 72-9. doi:10.1016/s1521-6616(03)00206-7
  5. Simon Gilbody, Sarah Lewis, Tracy Lightfoot, Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Genetic Polymorphisms and Psychiatric Disorders: A HuGE Review, American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 165, Issue 1, 1 January 2007, Pages 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwj347
  6. Wierzbicki, Anthony S. “Homocysteine and cardiovascular disease: a review of the evidence.” Diabetes & vascular disease research vol. 4,2 (2007): 143-50. doi:10.3132/dvdr.2007.033
  7. Chen, M et al. “Genotypes 677TT and 677CT+1298AC of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase are associated with the severity of ulcerative colitis in central China.” Gut vol. 54,5 (2005): 733-4. doi:10.1136/gut.2004.062539
  8. Traci Stein Ph.D., MPH A Genetic Mutation That Can Affect Mental & Physical Health Psychology 2014. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-integrationist/201409/genetic-mutation-can-affect-mental-physical-health
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "MTHFR Gene, Folic Acid, and Preventing Neural Tube Defects" Accessed October 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/mthfr-gene-and-folic-acid.html
  10. Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, et al., editors. Neuroscience. 2nd edition. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates; 2001. Glutamate. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10807/
  11. Rönnbäck, L., Hansson, E. On the potential role of glutamate transport in mental fatigue. J Neuroinflammation 1, 22 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-2094-1-22
  12. Harris, Richard E et al. “Elevated insular glutamate in fibromyalgia is associated with experimental pain.” Arthritis and rheumatism vol. 60,10 (2009): 3146-52. doi:10.1002/art.24849
  13. Shao, L et al. “The effect of mood stabilizer lithium on expression and activity of glutathione s-transferase isoenzymes.” Neuroscience vol. 151,2 (2008): 518-24. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.10.041
  14. Epstein, J., Sanderson, I., & MacDonald, T. (2010). Curcumin as a therapeutic agent: The evidence from in vitro, animal and human studies. British Journal of Nutrition, 103(11), 1545-1557. doi:10.1017/S0007114509993667
  15. Baur, J., Sinclair, D. Therapeutic potential of resveratrol: the in vivo evidence. Nat Rev Drug Discov 5, 493–506 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd2060
  16. Chaung, Hso-Chi et al. “Docosahexaenoic acid and phosphatidylserine improves the antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo and cognitive functions of the developing brain.” Food chemistry vol. 138,1 (2013): 342-7. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.10.082
  17. Yuanhui Huang, Tongrong He, and Frederick E. Domann. Decreased Expression of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase in Transformed Cells Is Associated with Increased Cytosine Methylation of the SOD2 Gene.DNA and Cell Biology.Aug 1999.643-652.http://doi.org/10.1089/104454999315051
  18. Ventura, P et al. “N -Acetyl-cysteine reduces homocysteine plasma levels after single intravenous administration by increasing thiols urinary excretion.” Pharmacological research vol. 40,4 (1999): 345-50. doi:10.1006/phrs.1999.0519
  19. Smith, A. R.; Shenvi, S. V.; Widlansky, M.; Suh, J. H.; Hagen, T. M. Lipoic Acid as a Potential Therapy for Chronic Diseases Associated with Oxidative Stress Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 11, Number 9, 2004, pp. 1135-1146(12) doi:https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867043365387
  20. Lam JRSchneider JLZhao WCorley DA. Proton Pump Inhibitor and Histamine 2 Receptor Antagonist Use and Vitamin B12 Deficiency. JAMA. 2013;310(22):2435–2442. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.280490
  21. Unternaehrer, E., Luers, P., Mill, J. et al. Dynamic changes in DNA methylation of stress-associated genes (OXTRBDNF ) after acute psychosocial stress. Transl Psychiatry 2, e150 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2012.77

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BY DR. WILL COLE

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Dr. Will Cole, DNM, IFMCP, DC is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is also the host of the popular The Art of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian, Gut Feelings, and The Inflammation Spectrum.

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