Let’s talk MTHFR

MTHFR deficiency may explain many of your symptoms – it did mine, when I found out I had this deficiency.

When your body produces MTHFR normally, you’re able to efficiently process homocysteine, an amino acid produced when proteins break down. In healthy humans, almost all homocysteine is converted into other substances that the body needs, so there is very little left in the bloodstream. When there’s an MTHFR deficiency, however, homocysteine levels are elevated, which is concerning because high levels of homocysteine can cause blood clots and damage arteries. 

MTHFR deficiency symptoms include:

• An increased risk of cardiovascular issues, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and blood clots
• Homocystinuria, a disorder affecting the eyes, joints, and cognitive abilities
• Psychological and mental health issues including mood swings, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia
• Frequent migraines
• Birth defects, specifically neural tube defects, which are severe birth defects of the brain and spine
• Recurrent miscarriages (see my other posts regarding supplementing with natural progesterone)
• Certain cancers like leukemia and colon cancer
• Chronic pain and fatigue

Functional medicine practitioners can help you test for the MTHFR gene. I encourage you to do your own research on MTHFR deficiency. Your research may give you the answers you’ve been looking for, as it did for me.