MTHFR Gene Mutations — What A Tangled Web They Weave

[Sheila]

Some of you might be interested in a book called, "Why Isn't My Brain Working" by Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS. He has a chapter on neurological autoimmunity that addresses many of the symptoms mentioned in this thread. It is a big book, complex and very interesting. Although the title of the book refers to the brain, other body systems and disorders are also addressed, i.e. leaky gut, gluten sensitivity, gut-brain axis. This doctor really understands how diet and nutrition, environmental toxins, etc impact brain health as well as our bodies as a whole.

Dr. Kharrazians first book is called, "Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests are Normal?"

Sheila W

[Zizzle]

Tex, I may have missed it, but did you share which particular MTHFR mutations you have? I'm hetero 1298c, but have several other less important ones that seem to be screwing up my neurotransmitter balance.

I saw my doc yesterday and despite my middle of the range thyroid numbers, she said my T3 could have been higher, so she prescribed 5 mcg Cytomel, the lowest dose, to see if it helps with my low body temp, low HR, dry skin, etc, etc.

[tex]

Would you consider neuropathy/paresthesia a symptom of MC? And if so, what is the connection?

There are apparently several connections/pathways by which this can happen. The first connection is gluten sensitivity. So it's certainly an associated symptom for some of us. but before we can call it a true symptom of MC, we would have to know that MC causes gluten sensitivity, rather than the other way around, because if gluten sensitivity comes first, then both MC and neuropathy would be symptoms of gluten sensitivity. I'm not sure that a high percentage of us have these symptoms, but the fact that virtually all of us have a leaky gut means that gluten can cross the blood/brain barrier, leading to neurological problems.

Gluten sensitivity as a neurological illness

IMO (and remember that this is just my opinion) long-term malabsorption caused by MC eventually leads to B vitamin deficiencies, resulting in neuropathy. But remember that the average liver can store enough vitamin B-12 to last for up to 5 years, so this usually takes a long time to become a problem.

In some cases compromised methylation processes can affect the brain and the production of neurotransmitters that the brain uses for communication with itself and with the rest of the body, but we don't know enough about this to even understand how widespread it might be, let alone how to properly treat it.

Tex

[tex]

Zizzle,

I believe I posted that information in a previous thread, but here it is for reference:

I'm heterozygous for MTHFR A1298C and MTHFR C677T

I'm homozytous for MAO-A R297R and VDR Bsm

That may explain why my vitamin D level can be high and suddenly crash, and then resurrect again. For years, I couldn't get my vitamin D level up above 45 ng/mL. And then suddenly it hit the upper limit and consistently stays there. Apparently some methylation issues were resolved.

I'm also hererozygous for COMPT V 158M and COMPT H62H.

Tex