MTHFR has become a bit of a buzzword lately; a genetic defect that inhibits your ability to metabolise folate (vitamin B9). About 30% to 50% of us have this genetic defect (though many don\’t notice it at all) and it\’s been linked to everything from insomnia to cancer. While it might sound straightforward, it\’s actually incredibly complex (there are 34 known forms of the mutation) and the treatment protocol will (and should) look a little different for everyone.
For example: if someone tests deficient in folate during a routine test from a general practitioner who isn\’t looking for MTHFR, the recommended course of treatment is usually going to be to get them to ingest more dark leafy vegetables, and perhaps take a folate supplement. If that person has MTHFR, ingesting more folate or folic acid is likely to make them worse (or give rise to a whole new crop of symptoms). The problem isn\’t the amount of \”raw\” folate and folic acid they\’re taking in; it\’s that their body can\’t turn it into something the body can use.
If your practitioner is trained in MTHFR and methylation (the process which turns folate you eat into folate your body can use), they\’ll be able to identify which specific defect you have, and which supplements you need to counterbalance that defect. They\’ll also be able to help you identify and steer clear of hidden sources of folic acid, such as wheat flour (as folic acid can counteract vitamin B deficiencies, most Australian flour companies fortify their flour with it).