MTHFR Support Global

28/10/2025

❗Your liver does more than detox; it methylates, too.

Your body detoxes daily, but methylation is the engine behind it.
🧬When MTHFR or related genes are sluggish, toxins can build up faster than your body clears them.

🔬 Common overload signs:
⚡ Fatigue that doesn’t go away
🌿 Sensitivity to smells or chemicals
😣 Headaches or skin flare-ups after “detoxing”

💡 Support your detox pathways by:
Optimising methylation nutrients (B2, B6, folate, B12, choline)
Including cruciferous vegetables 🥦
Reducing toxin exposure (glyphosate, plastics, fragrances)

🧩 Your genes influence how well you clear what you’re exposed to. Understanding them helps you detox smarter, not harder.

27/10/2025

27/10/2025

Did you know the world’s most common herbicide can turn into oxalate inside your body? 😮

Here’s why that matters, especially if you or your patients have MTHFR or methylation issues.

🧬 The science simplified:
Glyphosate (Roundup) breaks down into glyoxylate, which, under stress or genetic weakness (like AGXT variants), can convert directly to oxalate - the same compound that drives kidney stones, inflammation, and pain.

But that’s not all 👇
Glyphosate also binds essential nutrients needed for oxalate metabolism: manganese, zinc, B6, and iron.
Result? The body can’t detox properly, and oxalates build up.

🔥 The “perfect storm” for MTHFR patients:
Ongoing fatigue or joint pain even with “clean eating”?
Worsening gut symptoms after switching to “healthy” whole foods?
Children or adults who react strongly to oxalate-rich diets (spinach, nuts, sweet potatoes)?

👉 Glyphosate exposure may be the missing link.

💡 What’s more:
Oxalates and sulphates share the same transporter (SAT1).
When oxalates build up, sulphate - essential for detox, neurotransmitters, and hormones - is dumped.
That means methylation alone won’t fix the imbalance.

🌎 Where it’s found:
☔ 75% of air and rain samples
🌾 Most non-organic grains and legumes
🥩 Conventional animal products

This explains why some of your most compliant patients plateau despite perfect supplementation and diet.

🧩 The takeaway:
Environmental toxicity can directly influence methylation and oxalate metabolism. Addressing glyphosate exposure is just as important as supporting MTHFR function.

🎓 Want to master genetic interpretation for oxalate cases?
Carolyn’s comprehensive training covers the glyphosate–oxalate connection and how to assess + mitigate environmental exposure.

🔗 Training link in bio or visit: https://loom.ly/k75oXS0

26/10/2025

Ever noticed how a short barefoot walk can instantly calm your mind? 🦶💚
It’s not just a vibe, it’s biochemistry and physics.

Here’s how it works 👇
🌍 Grounding (earthing) allows your body to absorb free electrons from the Earth.
These electrons act as natural antioxidants, helping reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.

🧠 For those with MTHFR or methylation imbalances, grounding can support:
✨ Lower stress reactivity
✨ Improved sleep quality
✨ Better nervous system regulation
✨ Enhanced parasympathetic activity (“rest and digest” mode)

Even 10 minutes a day can shift your body from fight-or-flight to repair-and-reset.

💡 Mindful reminder: The best medicine sometimes isn’t in a bottle, it’s beneath your feet.

23/10/2025

Two patients.
Same diet.
Same symptoms.
Same “oxalate detox” protocol.

However, one improved... and the other deteriorated significantly. 😬

Here’s what made the difference 👇

✨ Patient B carried variants in the AGXT gene, meaning her body couldn’t process oxalates properly.
Instead of healing, every “healthy” green smoothie pushed her deeper into inflammation.

This is why genetics matters.

🧩 Here’s what your genes can reveal about oxalate sensitivity:
🔹 AGXT variants: Need high-dose B6 + strict oxalate restriction (B6-dependent enzyme).
🔹 GRHPR variants: Show elevated glyoxylic acid, need NADPH and antioxidant support.
🔹 HOGA1 variants: Must avoid collagen, which breaks down into oxalate precursors.
🔹 SLC26A family: Determines how much oxalate is absorbed from food.
🔹 SHMT + MTHFR variants: Impair glycine metabolism → increased oxalate risk.

💥 Real story: One woman lost both knees and a hip to oxalate-related damage before her genetics explained why standard care failed her.

🧬 The takeaway:
If someone isn’t responding to “clean eating” or low-oxalate protocols… look deeper.
Genes like AGXT, SHMT, and MTHFR can hold the missing piece.

🔍 Want to learn how to read these patterns?
Join our functional genomics education hub at MTHFR Support Institute, or get our Genetic SNPs training here:https://loom.ly/k75oXS0

22/10/2025

We often talk about folate and B12 when it comes to methylation, but there’s another nutrient quietly running the show: Vitamin B6, or more precisely, its active form Pyridoxal 5’-Phosphate (PLP).

PLP isn’t just another “B vitamin.” It’s a biochemical powerhouse. ⚡
It supports over 70 enzymatic reactions, including:
🧬 Neurotransmitter synthesis (serotonin, dopamine, GABA)
🌿 Methylation & detox pathways (CBS, BHMT, and transsulfuration)
💥 Energy regulation & glucose control
🩸 Red blood cell formation and heme synthesis

But here’s what most people, and even clinicians, overlook 👇
PLP is fragile.
It’s easily inactivated by:
⚠️ Certain medications (e.g. isoniazid, hydralazine, penicillamine)
⚠️ Oxidative or aldehyde stress
⚠️ Genetic variants in PNPO, ALDH7A1, or PLPBP

When PLP falters, symptoms ripple across multiple systems:
😴 Fatigue and poor stress tolerance
💭 Anxiety, depression, or OCD
🔥 High homocysteine and poor methylation
🧠 Neuropathy or seizure susceptibility

💡 Clinical insight:
Sometimes, it’s not about how much B6 you take, but rather how well your body can activate and utilise it.

✨ Nutrients work as a network. If PLP is low, folate and B12 can’t do their jobs effectively either.

📚 Read more:
Wilson et al., Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1002/jimd.12071

21/10/2025

Your gut and your metabolism talk to each other more than you think. 🧠➡️🦠➡️🩸

We often separate digestive issues from blood sugar problems… but the science says they’re deeply connected, and MTHFR may be one of the missing links.

Here’s how 👇
🧬 1️⃣ MTHFR variants (like C677T or A1298C) can raise homocysteine, a molecule that fuels oxidative stress and inflammation.
💥 This stress can impair insulin signalling → higher blood sugar → fatigue and sugar cravings.
🌿 2️⃣ Gut inflammation (think IBS, IBD, or leaky gut) can further elevate homocysteine and reduce nutrient absorption, especially folate and B12.
⚖️ 3️⃣ Together, they can create a feedback loop that affects energy, mood, and metabolism.

💡 The good news:
Balanced methylation = better insulin sensitivity, calmer inflammation, and a happier gut.

🧩 Support your methylation pathway with:
Folate (as 5-MTHF, not folic acid!)
B12 (methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin)
B6, choline, magnesium, zinc

A diverse, fibre-rich diet to nourish your gut

✨ It’s all connected: your genes, your gut, and your glucose.
Personalised care starts by understanding the biochemistry behind the symptoms.

20/10/2025

Most people think MTHFR is just about mood or methylation…
But did you know it can also link to diabetes, gut inflammation, and liver health? 😮

New research reveals that homocysteine, regulated by the MTHFR enzyme, plays a hidden role in many modern metabolic diseases:

🩸 Type 2 Diabetes:
High homocysteine levels impair insulin signalling and promote oxidative stress in beta cells.

🤰 Gestational Diabetes:
MTHFR variants can exacerbate insulin resistance during pregnancy, particularly under stress.

⚖️ Metabolic Syndrome & Obesity:
Homocysteine disrupts fat metabolism and nitric oxide balance, fueling inflammation.

🍔 Fatty Liver (NAFLD):
Elevated homocysteine promotes fat accumulation and liver cell stress.

💩 IBD (Crohn’s, UC):
MTHFR-related methylation issues can switch on inflammatory genes in the gut.

🧬 What ties it all together?
➡️ MTHFR polymorphisms → higher homocysteine (HHcy)
➡️ HHcy → oxidative stress + poor methylation
➡️ Result: inflammation, insulin resistance, and metabolic chaos.

💡 Clinical insight:
Homocysteine testing reveals how your genes are actually functioning.
And it’s modifiable, through nutrients like methylfolate, B12, choline, and betaine.

🧩 It’s not about one gene, it’s about the system.
Supporting the methylation cycle supports the whole body.

📚 References:
Araszkiewicz et al., Genes (2025): https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16040441

🩵

19/10/2025

Ever notice how your body whispers before it shouts? 💭
The afternoon slump. The foggy focus. The “I’m so tired but can’t sleep” nights.

We often push through, thinking it’s just stress, but sometimes it’s your biochemistry asking for balance.

✨ Elevated homocysteine, sluggish methylation, nutrient imbalances, they can all quietly drain your energy before symptoms shout.

🧘‍♀️ Mindful reframe:
Instead of pushing harder, pause and ask:
💡 “What does my body need right now to restore balance?”
Maybe it’s rest, maybe it’s nourishment, or maybe it’s time to look deeper.

Because mindfulness isn’t just about meditation… It’s also about listening to your inner chemistry.

🧬 Awareness → Testing → Personalised care → Energy restored

16/10/2025

“Folic acid is safe for everyone, even with MTHFR.”
You’ve probably seen this claim on a prenatal label recently… but the science says otherwise. ⚠️

The company behind it referenced a 2012 study, which is over a decade old, before thousands of newer papers have shown clear differences in how people with MTHFR polymorphisms process folic acid.

Here’s what we know now 👇
🧬 Those with MTHFR variants convert folic acid less efficiently, leading to unmetabolised folic acid (UMFA) buildup.
🤰 5-MTHF (the active form) supports healthy methylation and pregnancy outcomes without that risk.
💊 It’s also the preferred form for women with recurrent pregnancy loss or B12 deficiency.

The research is clear:
➡️ 5-MTHF is as effective as folic acid at maintaining folate levels, while reducing UMFA.
It’s time for public health and supplement policy to catch up with modern genomics.

💬 Do you think supplement companies should be required to use 5-MTHF in prenatals?

📚 Key references:
🔹 Ledowsky et al., RBMO, 2025 – https://www.rbmojournal.com/article/S1472-6483(25)00447-X/fulltext
🔹 Cochrane et al., British Journal of Nutrition, 2016 – https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/supplementation-with-6s5methyltetrahydrofolic-acid-appears-as-effective-as-folic-acid-in-maintaining-maternal-folate-status-while-reducing-unmetabolised-folic-acid-in-maternal-plasma-a-randomised-trial-of-pregnant-women-in-canada/A07396C9FBD5A56E4B3D6BCB5D465CBA
🔹 Bailey & Ayling, Scientific Reports, 2018 – https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-22191-2

15/10/2025

We’ve long been told that more folic acid = better protection in pregnancy…
But new research is showing it’s not that simple. ⚖️

📚 Supporting research from Adelaide University found that women with high red cell folate levels had a 48% higher rate of gestational diabetes.

So what’s going wrong?
🧩 Mandatory fortification means most Australians already consume folic acid from foods like bread and cereals.
🥖 3 slices of fortified bread = ~120 µg
🥣 Some cereals = up to 300 µg per 100 g
💊 Add a prenatal multivitamin (often 400–800 µg), and your daily intake may easily exceed safe upper limits, without even realising it.

👉 The upper safe threshold is 400 µg per day (from all sources combined).
Excess folic acid can build up in the bloodstream, especially in those with MTHFR variants, who may struggle to convert it into the active form (5-MTHF).

💡 The takeaway?
Folate is essential, but form and balance matter more than “more.”
Choosing methylated folate (5-MTHF) helps maintain healthy levels without exceeding them.

14/10/2025

🥵Sweat smarter, not harder. The truth about infrared saunas.

♨️Infrared saunas are everywhere right now, from gyms to home wellness spaces, but do they really “detox” your body? Let’s look at the science. 🔬✨

When used correctly, infrared therapy can support detox pathways by:
🔥 Increasing circulation and lymphatic flow
💦 Promoting sweating to release stored toxins (including heavy metals)
⚙️ Activating heat shock proteins - molecules that protect your cells from stress

But here’s the MTHFR link 👇
If you have MTHFR or other methylation variants, your detox capacity may already be slower, meaning your liver and cells need extra nutritional support when exposed to oxidative or thermal stress.

🧬 Before jumping into daily sessions:
✅Ensure optimal hydration + electrolytes 💧
✅Support your methylation pathways with folate, B12, and antioxidants 🍃
✅Start slow: 10–15 mins, 2–3x per week can still activate benefits without overwhelming detox pathways

Infrared therapy isn’t a magic fix, but when paired with good methylation support, it can be a great ally for improving circulation, skin health, and stress resilience. 💪

Would you try it? Or have you already noticed benefits? Let us know below 👇