Suboptimal methylation due to variations in the MTHFR gene is one of the most common health problems in the country, affecting more than 50% of the US population, and yet it is one of the health problems less discussed, even among health care providers. At mbg, we have decided it’s time to break the silence and spread awareness of this common genetic disposition that widely affects Americans.
But what are methylation and the MTHFR gene? methylation it is an essential biochemical process that affects (without exaggeration) every cell and system in the body. the MTHFR gene it is a key player in the methylation cycle. It codes for the enzyme MTHFR, which converts folate (from foods) and folic acid (from fortified foods and certain types of supplements) into the active form of 5-MTHF, which is needed to keep the folate, methionine, and folic acid cycles going. ultimately methylation. gently.*
As Vice President of Scientific Affairs of MBG Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDNexplains in a music analogy, methylation is like a beautiful symphony when healthy and optimized. However, when people have a variation of the MTHFR gene, their body cannot convert folate and folic acid in the bioactive form 5-MTHF just as easily, which is much like if a large part of the string section of an orchestra was out of rhythm and unable to play in sync with the rest of the instruments.
In musical terms, variations of the MTHFR gene mean that “as hard as the strings try, their timing is off and they cannot achieve the intended collective sound to support the other sections of the orchestra (folate and methionine cycles) and achieve the beautiful, optimized symphony (methylation),” explains Ferira.
From a biological standpoint, suboptimal methylation can lead to uncontrolled homocysteine levels and have profound implications for cardiovascular health, the central nervous system, detoxification pathways, reproductive health and more, and those with a gene variant MTHFR are more prone to these health problems.
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