Crash Course on MTHFR & Genetic Terminology

PURSER WELLNESSWhat Happens If You Have A Gene SNP?A conversation with Dr. Purser

Genetic SNPs are tiny changes in your DNA that can drastically affect how well your enzymes and proteins work. For example, being homozygous for MTHFR C677T leaves that enzyme functioning at only about 30% efficiency, which can drain your energy and impair folate processing. Similarly, errors in SOD genes reduce your body’s ability to neutralize free radicals. While we can’t change your genes, we can work around them by identifying these weaknesses and filling the gaps with targeted nutrition and supplementation—helping your body function closer to its full potential.

PURSER WELLNESSWhy do I need methylated B Vitamins? From the reading room

Many vitamins and minerals go through the methylation cycle meaning a methyl group is added to a molecule to turn it into its active form. Individuals with MTHFR and other genetic methylation errors are unable to efficiently create the methylated versions of those certain vitamins and minerals. Those with MTHFR specifically cannot make enough 5-MTHF, an activated form of folate, which in turn prohibits the ability to methylate other vitamins. These errors can lead to a number of cellular deficiencies which can cause chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression (BASICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A SLUG) and

Makes an enzyme that helps produce a form of folate used in the processing of homocysteine. Common variants are different from rare variants that cause severe MTHFR deficiency.

Dan Purser MD and Jackson Larkin discuss the connections they consider between sugar cravings, cellular energy, and methylation.