MTHFR
MTHFR stands for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which is the gene that codes for folate metabolism. It is estimated that 40-60% of people have one or more defects in this gene, and its effects can influence very many areas of health. MTHFR is a gene that is super important for the proper functioning or the methylation process. What is the methylation process? We need to crank out methyl groups to attach to enzymes in our body to propel healthful activities of all kinds. Those with MTHFR impairment have trouble keeping up, and this can negatively affect health in many ways. Here are some conditions of health that can be related to MTHFR problems:
Diabetes – Cancer – Pulmonary Embolism – Cleft Palate – Autism – Parkinson’s – Neural Tube Defects – Atherosclerosis – Immune Deficiency – ADD/ADHD – Multiple Sclerosis – Alzheimer’s – Dementia – Chemical Sensitivity – Congenital Heart Defects – Fibromyalgia – Depression – Alcoholism –
Addictive Behaviors – Insomnia – Down Syndrome – Chronic Viral Infection – Thyroid Dysfunction – Neuropathy – Migraine - Recurrent Miscarriages – Infertility – Anxiety – Schizophrenia – Bipolar Depression – Eating Disorders – OCD - Allergies – Asthma - Psoriasis – Crohn’s Disease - IBD –
Celiac Disease – Gluten Intolerance & Other Food Intolerance
Basically, methylation involves a person’s ability to metabolize dietary sulfur. The success of this process is dependent on successful conversion of inactive forms of folate and vitamin B12 to the active, methylated forms. Some 45-60% of our population does not do this well due to a genetic defect in the gene that codes for the enzyme MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) that is responsible for the conversion of inactive folate to the active.
See "In a Nutshell" for a not-too-long-and-technical explanation!
Click the video above for my "Intro to MTHFR" presentation and the photo at right for the PDF that goes with it.
Methylation, MTHFR, and the Path to Optimal Health
To be vibrantly healthy, your body needs to churn out a steady supply of methyl groups — tiny chemical tags that act like sparks in your internal engine. These methyl groups attach to countless enzymatic processes, turning things on, speeding reactions up, and keeping the whole system humming.
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But here’s the catch: many people (likely most of us) have a common genetic glitch in a gene called MTHFR — short for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. It’s a mouthful, but all you really need to know is that this gene helps your body activate folate, a critical B vitamin required to make methyl groups.
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If your MTHFR gene isn’t working efficiently, you can’t convert synthetic folic acid (the form found in most processed foods and low-quality supplements) into its active, usable form. Without that activated folate, you fall behind in methylation, and things start to misfire.
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🧬 What’s Needed to Keep Methylation Running Smoothly:
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Activated folate (5-MTHF) — not folic acid
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Cofactors like active B12, B6 (as P-5-P), B2, and the rest of the B-complex family
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Sulfur-containing compounds to kickstart the methylation cycle (think cruciferous veggies, MSM, NAC)
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Nutritional lithium (lithium orotate) — this often-overlooked trace mineral helps shuttle folate and B12 from the bloodstream into your cells, where the magic happens
🎯 What’s the Goal?
When methylation is firing on all cylinders, the end result is the robust production of glutathione — often called the "miracle molecule." It’s your body’s master antioxidant and detoxifier, essential for cleaning up cellular messes, repairing tissues, neutralizing toxins, and keeping inflammation in check.
​😰 Why Stress Makes Things Worse
When you're under stress — whether emotional, chemical, or physical — your body burns through methyl groups faster. This increased demand can quickly overwhelm a sluggish methylation system, especially if you carry MTHFR variants. The result? Greater vulnerability to fatigue, brain fog, mood swings, inflammation, and chronic disease.
🧪 In Summary:
Methylation is like the ignition key to your body’s biochemistry.
Without enough methyl groups, systems slow down and fall apart.
Supporting methylation — especially if you have MTHFR issues — is one of the most powerful ways to build resilience, energy, and long-term health.
