methylfolate side effects?

[MartynLewis]

Has anybody had side effects or adverse reactions to taking methylfolate? And if so, what kinds of effects?

I’m been experiencing a number of symptoms, for the past few months, many of which are similar to PA b12d symptoms. I’ve been increasing my injections but the symptoms remain and seem to be getting worse.

I’m await blood results to rule out anything else related to my symptoms.

But it occurred that me that I’ve been taking methylfolate daily since just before these symptoms all started creeping in - and now I look at my notes when I was first diagnosed with PA and started self injecting I tried taking Methylfolate daily and after a good week 1 by week 3 I was feeling dreadful - so reduced to take once a week just to keep it ticking along.

Interested to hear of others experiences.

I have deliberately not shared my symptoms/side effects here yet to hopefully not sway anybody's answers.

[MartynLewis]

Thanks. I was looking for Methylfolate rather than Methylcobalamin but I suspect the reactions could be the same from the MTHR element.

[ACritical in reply to MartynLewis]

Individuals that cannot tolerate Methylfolate often have low B12 levels in their cells. This can cause “methyl trapping”, where the excess methylfolate is unable to be utilised in the methionine cycle (through the MTR enzyme) as usable B12 levels are too low. Supplementation of B12 for a number of weeks prior to supplementing methylfolate, will avoid reactions to methylfolate.

MTHFR gene mutations negatively impact the methylation pathway and vitamin B12 levels.

“This happens because certain MTHFR mutations (C667T and A129C) lower the amount of active folate being produced in the body, and the use of vitamin B12 requires the active form of folate. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be occurring while vitamin B12 levels are at levels not typically associated with deficiency due to the presence of deleterious MTHFR mutations.” 5

If you have one or more MTHFR, MTRR or MTR gene mutations, you will be less able to methylate B12 or convert your B12 to methylcobalamin. The more mutations you have, the less likely you are to make this conversion

I have mutations in my MTHFR and that affects the uptake of certain medications and supplements in my case. I decided to gene testing to more understand what was going on when I did not respond as well to NHS ‘normal ‘ B12 treatment.

[ACritical in reply to ACritical]

methyl-life.com/blogs/vital...

[Nackapan in reply to ACritical]

In one paragraph it states hydroxcobalamin is a more a natural source. I'm another paragraph states hydroxcobalamin synthetic?

Seemingly the body converts it anyhow .

It's odd the methyl part can cause more side effects than synthetic forms .

Seems the case though??

[JesusMercy60 in reply to ACritical]

hello thank you for the information, so I have the mthfr gene and I'm currently taking methyl b12. I'm on my 6th month of treatment. I have not been taking methyl folate but I have been eating a lot of vegies and food with folate and take a natural folate suppliment derived from food in the suppliment on the folic acid so I hope I'm on the correct path.

[ottolinebear]

I just read somewhere that excess folate can cause similar symptoms to folate deficiency and the replies above are interesting. I was wondering if I had excess folate lately (after supplementing on and off for a year) but have realised I have histamine overload...another issue with MTHFR gene mutations. My symptoms have improved rapidly (past 48hrs) since taking steps to lower histamine (there are various ways but I have used liquorice tea, zeolite clay and desiccated kidney supplements)