Methylation polymorphisms (also called defects or mutations or SNPs) can impact mood. I’d like to share a few studies on some of the mood issues, other health conditions where we may see impacts and some resources for you to learn more.
If you have one of the MTHFR polymorphisms, the BH4 cycle may be affected and may impact how we make serotonin and dopamine. Here is some of the research:
There is much evidence on the methylation polymorphisms and these health conditions:
Resources for further learning
The two practitioners who I have learned the most from are Dr. Ben Lynch ND and Coleen Walsh, a nutritionist who has been dubbed the “methyl queen”.
- Ben Lynch ND: his website http://mthfr.net/ and blog articles provide a wealth of information and he is very active on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/drbenjaminlynch). I did his excellent 2 day professional training which he has available on this site. I also interviewed him on The Anxiety Summit and we talked about GAD, MOAO and COMT polymorphisms
- Coleen Walsh, nutritionist, “methyl queen” offers a professional MTHFR and Methylation training for practitioners and a MTHFR workshop for the layperson and every day mutant. I highly recommend both of these.
Just remember this great quote from Coleen Walsh during our interview on the Anxiety Summit:
Our DNA is not set in stone! Diet and lifestyle can go a long way to change our health destiny
The good news is that we can change our health, our disease outcomes and how we feel by eating real whole good quality organic food, getting chemicals and toxins out of our diets and environment, reducing stress, supporting the liver and our natural detox processes.
Certain key nutrients can also be very help for many people with polymorphisms. I’ll share more on folate and other nutrients and other SNPs in a later blog post. I’ll also share more on genetic testing.
I’d love to hear if you’ve done genetic testing and how making changes (supplement, diet, lifestyle) have helped. Be sure to post questions too.
I did the 23andme testing and found out I had MTHFR 1298 homozygeous mutation. I had suffered all my life with anxiety and put on 11 meds that led to my being hospitalized in a psych ward and eventually the meds led me to attempt a horrible suicide. I didn’t understand at the time that all those toxins were to blame. I started taking a formula called Q96, got off all my meds, healed my gut and at 57 Im better than ever!!
Thanks for sharing info on MTHFR! Now if we can just get the psychiatrists to “get it”
Cynthia
Thanks for sharing – I’m also MTHFR 1298 homozygeous and also suffered with anxiety and panic attacks. Fortunately I never took medications. I’m sorry to hear what you went through but so pleased to hear you’re better than ever. How wonderful!
I’m familiar with the original TrueHope Empower Plus product and why it was formulated (it’s a wonderful story of a dad looking for answers for his 2 bipolar kids, after his wife committed suicide). I believe Q96 is an off-shoot of this. It’s wonderful that it helped so much! There are a number of studies showing how effective it can be for depression, anxiety, biopolar and ADHD.
I still feel obliged to voice my concerns with the product: it contains folic acid rather than folate, the B12 is the cyanocobalamin form which is not the greatest, it has iron which not everyone needs (certainly not most men and menstruating women) and it has copper which can be problematic for many folks with anxiety. It’s also now sold as an MLM product.
I certainly don’t mean to put a damper on your wonderful results. I’m just mentioning this for others reading this blog and comments. I think the mission of the company, the studies and the good results about 50% of folks see is fabulous – I just wish they’d improve the ingredients.
The good news is that more and more doctors are testing MTHFR. Many of prescribing Deplin which which not be my first choice, but it’s a start
Trudy
Great reply Trudy!
Cynthia
I could not agree with Trudy more on the concerns with several of the forms of the B vitamins and some of the added ingredients, but I am happy that it is helping you Cynthia. I find that nutrient deficiencies are always an underlying problem with mood.
More and more psychiatrists are getting on board – but an individual protocol is always better than some of the multi ingredient products & prescription drugs out there.
Continued luck on your health journey!
Coleen
Just thought I would point out that Qsciences makes a formulation of Q96 especially designed for people with MTHFR mutations. I think they use folate rather than folic acid and a better form of cobalamin. If you have questions you could call them. I don’t like MLM’s either. What other ingredients should I be wary of in this product? Thanks
I was wondering if there is a link between MTHFR SNPS and high ferritin. After years of being anemic, I now have excessively high serum ferritin levels. I know that I am at least have one gene for the 677,being tested to seeif I am homozygous for 677.
Carol
There is a big connection between methylation mutations/polymorphisms and heart disease. Very high ferritin can be a sign of inflammation and if it’s high due to MTHFR mutations, you may also see high CRP, high fibrinogen, high homocysteine etc. I would suggest working with your doctor to get these other tests done. A VAP panel is what they’d likely do. You probably also want to get an iron panel done to make sure it’s not an iron overload condition like hemochromatosis.
How high is it and are you in menopause? Interestingly, my ferritin was always low and now that I’m in menopause it’s also high. I am homozygous for 1298.
I’ll ask Coleen to come on and make sure I’m getting this right.
Trudy
Trudy,
Thanks for responding. Yes, I am in menopause. My ferritn levels were a high of 343 back in 2009 before menopause, probably perimenopause. They have ranged from 343 to 208. Since I have been giving blood every 8 months they are down to 83 and 95. My serum iron has ranged from 65 to 158. My TIBC in 2013 was 418 and % Saturation was 29. My homocysteine has incresed, in 2010 it was 6.1 in 2014 it had increased to 9.6. My high sensitivity CRP in 2010 was 2.6 and has increased to 0.67 in 2014. I think that I am heterzygous for 677 just because my daughter is homozygous for 677. I haven’t gotten my results back from 23 and me.
I don not like giving blood since the last time I fainted. I tried taking IP6 for awhile but that did not help lower the ferritin levels.
Right on target Trudy!
It could absolutely high with MTHFR and other Methylation SNPs – pushing the inflammatory pathways – it could also be due to gut infections, etc. I would also suggest talking to your practitioner about a comprehensive stool panel as well. Your HCY (homocysteine) is higher than I like to see it.
I would try giving blood again – but I am suspecting something more is hiding… with these other numbers.
Good luck to you!
Coleen
As a sufferer of anxiety and panic of many years, this gives me so much hope! I discovered more than 2 years ago that I am homozygous for 1298 MTHFR, but I have yet to try taking methyl folate and b12 bc I’m scared to take it! I know you can’t just take tons of it without taking other things into consideration first. But the more I tried to figure it out the more overwhelmed I became and decided to wait until I could work with a professional very knowledgable about genetic SNPs and what to do. Well, fast forward to the past few months… I am struggling SO much with panic and anxiety issues again after several years of it being more stable. I’m wondering if taking folate, b12, b6 now can help me? Or if it could possibly make me feel worse if I don’t address other things first. Can you advise me at all on this??
Thank you!!
Oh, and I must mention that I have Chronic Lyme Disease and co-infections too that I have had a long time and just found out about this past November.
and yes those could contribute for sure
Tiffany
I’m sorry to hear this. There isn’t a solution like this: “I have this SNP therefore I take this supplement.” Your mutation may not even be expressing. Also without knowing what else is going on with you it’s impossible to know what is causing the anxiety and panic. Gluten, gut issues, infections, adrenals, low gaba, low serotonin and/or the 1298 SNPs could all be factors. I can say that it’s likely you’ll benefit from B12, folate, B6 if your homocysteine is high/B6 and B12 is low. But also consider stresses in your life and clean eating/clean living (i.e no toxins)
For my clients with anxiety and panic we figure out if low GABA or low serotonin is possibly an issue and then do trials of the amino acids.
Trudy
Tiffany
I absolutely agree with Trudy. You have to be very careful and sometimes it is not just the MTHFR SNP alone that we have to look at the big picture of Methylation SNPs and diet and lifestyle matters that Trudy addresses above.
I would be a bit vary about going on any higher dose supplementation for you – especially since you have mood issues.
Working on our stress, diet, exercise, mind/body and meditation will all help these pathways work better and there are no side effects.
Good luck to you!
Coleen
Hi, If one is tested for this MTHFR test and is tested positive. What is there to do but change diet am I correct. This is one test I have yet to really understand fully. I’ve been GF/ Grain free. Following a healthy lifestyle I gave up dairy and went to goats milk. I’m trying to do the elimination thing to find out why I have chronic inflammation. I feel good but I can’t seem to lose weight. I’m not giving up believe me I have come a long way to toss in the towel. I guess my question is if I did all sorts of test and they came back positive. The only true thing to do is keep up with the healthy lifestyle I am. Is this correct?
Hi Gail
Diet is one aspect – clean, organic, whole foods with plenty of food sources of folate like leafy greens. Other important aspects include stress reduction, improving and supporting detox pathways and then possible supplementation (with folate and other supporting nutrients like iron, zinc, amino acids etc all based on your unique needs)
Trudy
Trudy is correct Gail, you can start with all of these diet and lifestyle factors to start to help these biochemical pathways. Supplementation for MTHFR and other Methylation SNPs can be helpful – because it all basically boils down to nutrients and nutrient deficiencies that can occur when we have these mutations (or SNPs) like MTHFR.
Coleen
I lost a lot of weight after I dropped food with preservatives, dyes, synthetic stuff etc. I didn’t increase my exercise but lost significant weight. I have two copies of MTHFR C677T. I believe that getting off of toxins it helped. I make my food myself and know what is in my food and I try to just cook food from the earth and if I make bread I prefer to grind my own wheat.
Hi Trudy,
I have been reading pieces all over your site and am hoping there’s something here to help my daughter. She was diagnosed with panic disorder, anxiety and depression at age 14. We’ve been through a parade of doctors and therapists but her progress is inconsistent and not stable. Initially, she was in crisis and therefore many medications were tried to help her function. She is still on Prozac and Lamictal 3 years later. She is better with the therapy but now there are suggestions that she may be bipolar. She went to a naturopathic doctor and tested positive for MTHFR, hidden food allergens and neurotransmitter imbalances. However, she could not commit to a gluten free diet and the supplements were just not working. She also has negative ruminating thoughts and scratches herself raw. Have you encountered a case where natural treatments are not sufficient? I understand resisting a better diet is a road block but do you have any advice moving forward? It’s been very hard. Thank you.
Jan
I’m sorry to hear what your daughter is going through. I have all my clients do the amino acid questionnaire, precautions and trials of amino acids (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-amino-acids-overview/). They help the negative ruminating thoughts, anxiety, panic, depression AND make it easy to make the diet changes since they address the addictive aspect of gluten and help with emotional eating.
There is always an answer to be found – for some it’s simple, for others it’s more complex (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/60-nutritional-biochemical-causes-of-anxiety/). For some there is also therapy that is needed but if you’ve done that for years I’d focus on the biochemical and nutritional.
I just read your book The Anti anxiety Food Solution and it was great! I have a question that I need help with. I am looking for a Optizinc supplement with P5P form of B6 but cannot find one. Do you know of one? I have MTHFR so feel like I need easier absorbed vitamin B’s. Don’t want one with copper in it either. Looking to help with fear, phobia, and anxiety. Thank you sooo much!
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Eva
So glad you enjoyed my book! I use separate zinc and vitamin B6 supplements. You can find products here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/
Working with an inpatient whose B12 level was low 400s but folic acid level was >100!– She is currently receiving detox for alcohol abuse and receiving folic acid as a supplement— my question is– Would receiving oral supplement at this time affect her folic acid results to that extent? I would not think so, and feel it could be a clue towards possible C677T mutation?
Hello Trudy,
Thanks for all your very detailed and informative work in this area. I was recently diagnosed as MTHFR 1298 homozygeous myself. I’m wondering is this something that requires specific supplements to address or would it be addressed by following the general guidelines you provide in your book?
David
Keep in mind that MTHFR 1298 is not a diagnosis but rather a markers showing a predisposition to methylation challenges. Some people are able to compensate and others do better with additional methylfolate but it’s very individualized and too much can be an issue as Dr. Lynch shares in this Anxiety Summit interview https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-summit-methylfolate-anxiety/ The 1298 polymorphism can indicate more challenges with serotonin and dopamine production and supporting this with tryptophan and/or tyrosine can help but again it’s very individualized.
I suspect I have this mutation but finding someone in my area is slim to none. I battle low energy, tingling sensation which in turn causes anxiety. I am so exhausted trying to find an answer. I have started folate this week because in the past I have had low folic acid levels and have chronic thrombocytopenia. I have found psychiatrists in our area are doing this test and know some about it. Am waiting on an appointment. Any other suggestions?
Dana
Having the MTHFR polymorphism doesn’t mean it’s actually causing symptoms so do keep this in mind. Instead focus on a real whole foods diet, no gluten, no sugar, no caffeine, quality animal protein and eating to balance blood sugar. With low energy I’d also look at low iron/ferritin, low B12, adrenals, thyroid health and the gut. Tingling and anxiety can also be caused by low B12.
You can find my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” on Amazon here http://amzn.to/2kptFWm (affiliate link) – it covers the above and how to use the amino acids for anxiety. This blog is also a wealth of information