MHTFR

L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate vs folic acid on plasma homocysteine – (03-04-03)

December 4, 2013 by James Bogash

L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate vs folic acid on plasma homocysteine.

Oral folic acid needs to be converted by the enzyme MHTFR to 5-MTHF before it can be used by the body in the methylation pathways. As has been previously discussed in Updates, the enzyme MHTFR is a common site of genetic differences, with certain genotypes producing a very sluggish enzyme that does not readily activate the oral folic acid. The idea has been that, by giving 5-MHTF directly, you can bypass genetic defects. This study does not support this theory, but it was also done on normal patients without consideration of their genetic makeup.

AJCN — Abstracts: Venn et al. 77 (3): 658

Click here for more information.

Impaired functioning of MHTFR dependent on riboflavin status – (08-05-02)

May 18, 2013 by James Bogash

Impaired functioning of MHTFR dependent on riboflavin status

Ahhhh….the plot thickens!! Sometimes I just have to sit back and laugh at the depravity of medicine when it comes to natural therapeutics…Unfortunately, most clinicians have never heard of defects in the MHTFR genotype and its impact on folic acid need. Well, despite the lack of knowledge, science moves on–we are now finding other factors that also impact the conversion of folic acid to its active form (tetrahydrafolate) via the enzyme MHTFR; in this case riboflavin. However, the clinical impact SHOULD be negligible–most good diets and definitely most good quality multivitamins will also supply healthy levels of riboflavin to counteract this negative association. As an interesting note…most prenatals from the pharmaceutical companies have low levels of riboflavin (gram for gram probably outweighed by the food coloring’s and processing chemicals…).

AJCN — Abstracts: McNulty et al. 76 (2): 436

Read entire article here

Folic acid and plasma homocysteine in elderly – (03-25-02)

March 10, 2013 by James Bogash

Folic acid and plasma homocysteine in elderly

Folic acid seems to be one of the few exceptions when it comes to natural food vs supplement source. I almost invariably recommend food sources for nutrients, but folic acid levels in the literature that are high enough to have the best possible therapeutic effect can only be achieved with supplementation. This may be a factor of genetics; recall from previous Updates that about 25% of the population has a defect in the MHTFR gene and requires high levels of folic acid to produce the active form. As a side note, is it not ironic how researchers have long accepted the fact that folic acid, Vit B12 and Vit B6 can lower heart disease and are moving on to the specifics of this effect, and yet clinicians and patients are blissfully unaware that the relationship exists??

QJMed — Abstracts: Rydlewicz et al. 95 (1): 27