February's Monthly Topic Is Now Live ! MTHFR GENE

Resource(s) Used: livestrong.org & https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21527-homocysteine Photos: pexel.com & unsplash.com Photos edited using Canva.com Author Note: I am not a professional. I strongly oppose self-diagnosis and encourage my audience to seek the advice of their trusted medical professional or any other professional, depending on the topic. The Abler Blog ONLY PROVIDES LIMITED GENERAL INFORMATION and ALWAYS CITES WHERE THEY FIND THEIR RESOURCES AND INFORMATION. Jessica Niziolek, Founder Of The Abler Blog and online community. What Is The MTHFR Gene? This gene instructs the enzyme with whom it shares the same name. In turn, this gene works with vitamin B folate to decrease what is known as homocysteine levels in the person(’s) blood. What are homocysteine levels? This amino acid, with vitamins B12, B6, and B9 (folate,) helps the homocysteine levels that help generate other chemicals the body needs. Without the presence of high levels of Homocysteine, the person can be at risk of experiencing dementia, heart disease, and stroke if this deficiency is not treated properly. What does homocysteine do? When it interacts with the B vitamins, homocysteine converts to two substances: Methionine is an essential amino acid and antioxidant that synthesizes (creates) proteins. Cysteine, a nonessential amino acid synthesized from methionine, reduces inflammation, increases communication between immune cells, and increases liver health. What happens if I have too much homocysteine? Homocysteine levels in healthy people range from five to 15 micromoles per liter (mcmol/L). Nearly all of this homocysteine converts to other proteins. If you have more than 50 mcmol/L, the excess homocysteine may damage the lining of your arteries (blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout your body). High homocysteine levels can also lead to blood clots or blood vessel blockages. Artery damage or blood clots significantly raise your risk of heart attack. Common Conditions & Disorders What conditions and disorders affect homocysteine? Typically, homocysteine breaks down into other substances, and only small amounts of homocysteine remain in your blood. Some conditions interfere with this process and leave you with high homocysteine levels. You may have too much homocysteine in your blood if you have: Deficiencies in vitamins B12, B6, or folate. Heart disease. Rare inherited diseases, such as homocystinuria (when your body can’t process methionine). If you’d like to learn more about this topic, please visit the second link on page one of this blog post. Gene variants are common; they help determine things like hair and eye color. According to the CDC, gene mutations and changes in genes are not as common. MTHFR Variants According to a July 2015 article in Circulation, the most common variant is C677T. People who have two copies of the C677T variant (one from each parent) are considered "homozygous" for the variant; those with one copy are “heterozygous." Dr. Eng says a subset of people with the homozygous variant have reduced enzyme activity and higher homocysteine levels. People with the heterozygous form (i.e., just one copy) have normal homocysteine levels and no disease. Another common variant of MTHFR is A1298C. People who have certain variants may also have reduced enzyme functions, which allows the build-up of homocysteine.