MTHFR

[Scothyroidy]

Hi I have pa and was wondering if it is worth getting MTHFR testing? And where in the UK would be best for this?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

PA is a problem with absorbing B12

There are a number of genes that control how B12 is used in cells but MTHFR isn't one of them.

MTHFR is a gene that controls methylation in cells - variants don't have a significant effect on processisng of B12 in cells - it has more to do with folate.

[Scothyroidy in reply to Gambit62]

Yes of course but as some one who self injects on alternate days I need to take cofactors including 5mg folic acid, which is quite heavy on my insides hence the inquiry.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Scothyroidy]

5mg is a megadose of folic acid - likely to be more than you need unless you are actually deficient. To much folate can cause problems. The dose you are taking is used in the UK to treat someone who has been identified as having a folate deficiency. A b12 absorption can also affect your ability to absorb folate but as far as I am aware it should be enough to warrant using folic acid at that dose for more than a couple of monts.

[fbirder in reply to Scothyroidy]

Injecting B12 frequently does not increase the body's requirements for folate - or anything else.

It's like having an oil leak in your car. It means you have to put oil in much more frequently, but the amount of radiator coolant or windscreen washer fluid doesn't change.

So the standard dose of 400 mcg a day should be fine.

[Scothyroidy in reply to fbirder]

If I don't take 5mg folic acid and a B complex my urine is right orange and I feel ill.

b12deficiency.info/b12-trea...

[fbirder in reply to Scothyroidy]

Does that website you link to say that you need to overdose on folic acid?

No. It says -

If you are B12 deficient it is essential to have your folate (vitamin B9) and ferritin levels (iron storage) monitored

[Scothyroidy in reply to fbirder]

You can't overdose on folic acid it, like b12, is water soluble.

[fbirder in reply to Scothyroidy]

Hydrogen cyanide is water soluble.

[Scothyroidy in reply to fbirder]

Pregnant women with diabetes are prescribed 5mg folic acid a day... Overdose?

[fbirder in reply to Scothyroidy]

Only if they are found to be deficient or are in a high-risk group for neural tube defects, and only for a short period of time.

Sorry, I didn't realise you were pregnant.

[Scothyroidy in reply to fbirder]

It's standard practice to put diabetic women on 5mg if they fall pregnant. No ifs no buts. If a pregnant woman and her foetus can tolerate 5mg folic acid it isn't an overdose for anybody.

[fbirder in reply to Scothyroidy]

So why do they not continue 5 mg for longer than 12 weeks after birth?

[fbirder in reply to Scothyroidy]

Are you sure you haven't got that the wrong way round?

Bright orange urine can be caused by too much B2.

[Scothyroidy in reply to fbirder]

I take a B complex but the b2 isn't that high.

[fbirder]

One of the biggest genetic test companies in the world are 23andMe. They obviously have a vested interest in getting as many people as possible tested. Here is what they say about MTHFR - blog.23andme.com/health-tra...

Based on the existing data, scientists at 23andMe have concluded that people should not interpret their genotypes at the common MTHFR variants as having an effect on their health.

If you are worried about having the problematic mutation (homozygous C677T) then, rather than spend money on a test, why not try supplementing with methylfolate? If you do have a MTHFR problem then it is totally solved by taking methylfolate.

The only problem with doing so is that it costs more than folic acid (about 10p per capsule instead of 1p). Over a year I spend about £40 a year on methylfolate.