Wait, what???

I have not read any replies yet. But I have been told I have the MTHFR gene issue as well. It was found after I have 2 m/c (after two HEALTHY pregnancies). From what I read then, it was fairly common and no big deal. I have never heard any of this stuff you are talking about. Did your doc tell you this? I am not saying its not true, but I just never heard any of it. I will have to do some reading about it...I seriously have never heard or read anything at this point though that says any diet changes are required. Very interesting though. I will definitely look into all that! Thank you!

The gene itself is no big deal. 33% - 50% people carry it, and most have no symptoms at all. The research that links the gene to various health issues s is still relatively new and inconclusive.

Because so many healthy people have the gene, it is likely that other genes must be involved and/or certain environmental factors must be present in order for problems to arise, which is why it's so important NOT to call having the gene a diagnosis.

It would be like calling "having blue eyes" a diagnosis when you mean you have a genetic disease that only occurs in blue-eyed people (and there are some).

Most people who have the MTHFR gene are perfectly healthy or, at worst, may need to take a folic acid supplement (or eat more veggies).

A lot of unscrupulous "genetic testing labs," chiropractors and non-certified, self-proclaimed nutritionists, are making a lot of money by implying or saying that possession of the gene is a diagnosis independent of symptoms.

No symptoms = no disease.

Even having the gene and a diagnosis doesn't mean the diagnosis is caused by the gene.

Reportedly, 98% of those with autism have the gene, but that doesn't mean autism is caused by the gene. If it were that simple, autism would be much more common considering the gene is so common in healthy people.

Thank you for the info. Especially since I just found out that I am expecting again. I will be rehashing all this again with the doc tomorrow I suppose.
Actually yes, they did put me on a mega dose of folic acid last time. Other than that there were no further recommendations.

I don't believe my m/c had anything to do with that anyway. I think of it more as an incidental finding I guess.

It is patently false to say that the gene mutation itself is no problem. My sloppy usage of the term "medical diagnosis" does not negate the fact that the gene mutations are the cause of the codeable condition(s).

When I was healthy/asymptomatic, I warned people away from anyone other than establishment doctors just as fervently as you do now, kaplods. I only became open to alternative medicine when I found myself bedridden after having been a nationally ranked athlete and the establishment doctors could not help. Unfortunately, that is where MTHFR and its related SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), which cause codeable problems, currently lies - largely in alternative medicine. These genetic mutations are bypassed (yes, the mutations are addressed) with non-pharmaceuticals, which is a type of medicine generally not practiced by MDs in this country (yet).

My MD only began to implement the treatment of MTHFR and its related SNPs after her young son was diagnosed with cancer. Her whole family underwent genetic testing and found MTHFR and related SNPs. She has dozens of patients whose lives she is changing by bypassing their mutations (and resolving their codeable diagnoses) with non-pharmaceutical drugs. Such drugs can be necessary and life-saving, but are generally not necessary in this context. These drugs do come in handy once a patient whose MTHFR genes/related SNPs are mutated AND can no longer bear the cumulative toxin load (due to impaired gene-mediated detoxification) and develop cancer, autoimmune disease, etc. Having the mutation(s) leaves you prone/ripe for disease, even if you are healthy/asymptomatic now (as I was 4 years ago). My MD treats patients whose genes are mutated but who are asymptomatic (such as my children).

In hindsight, I should have simply said that I had been absent due to illness; it certainly would have saved quite a headache. I do hope that all of this has helped at least one person. I agree that everyone should do their own research and use their own discernment. This will be my last post on this thread. I do apologize in advance for not responding to future posts. It is my intention to be on this site for binge eating support.

Blessings,
J.

So you really believe that more than 1/3 (and up to 1/2) of the human race has a serious genetic defect that universally results in life-threatening disease?

If that's true, the species is doomed. Especially since we're only talking about one defect here, and there are hundreds, if not thousands of other genetic defects. Why, that would mean everyone must have a serious disease they don't know about.

Ok, I'm saying this with my brain in a fog because of what has been going on in my personal life lately, but is it possible that the diet change and other stuff make you feel better because you have another condition that has not been discovered in you yet (meaning you haven't been tested for whatever it is) and the MTHFR mutation is there but not related? Just a thought.