What is MTHFR and why does it matter? By Dr. Tracy McAlvanah
If you read the latest health news, you may have seen the acronym MTHFR popping up a lot recently. MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, an enzyme that plays a role in processing the nutrient folic acid/folate into a form the body can use. With the increased popularity of genetic testing, many people are showing a mutation in the MTHFR gene. This genetic defect impacts the body’s methylation pathways, which affects detoxification and other important processes in the body and thus can give rise to health disorders. Methylation is a process of adding a methyl group to a molecule. Methylation’s roles include: Turns on and off genes Processes chemicals and toxins Builds brain chemicals called neurotransmitters Processes hormones Builds immune cells Synthesizes DNA and RNA Produces energy Produces protective coating on nerves When the MTHFR genes work properly, you can more efficiently make proteins, use antioxidants, metabolize hormones, enjoy more s...