Gene SNPs

You may read that a CBS variant causes the pathway to run “too fast,” depletes methyl groups, creates too much ammonia or sulfur, and means you should avoid sulfur-rich foods. Let's demystify and do some truth telling.

You get your bloodwork back and your homocysteine is elevated. If you've ever looked at Instagram ever your first thought is probably "It must be MTHFR!" You might be right, especially if you have an MTHFR C677T variant, which is most closely associated with high homocysteine. But there are many other reasons for homocysteine to be elevated, so don't stop looking once you see MTHFR.

Search for information about MTHFR online and you'll quickly encounter two very different messages. One group screams if you have an MTHFR variant, avoid folic acid and use methylfolate instead. The other group insists that people with MTHFR variants can process folic acid, so there is no reason to avoid it. Today, we'll explore the research and answer the question "Do you really need to avoid folic acid if you have MTHFR?"

If you've had genetic testing and discovered an MTHFR variant, there's a good chance your report mentions one or both of two names: C677T and A1298C. These are both variances in the same gene, MTHFR, but these two variants aren't the same (see the magic chair analogy for a simple explanation). They affect the MTHFR enzyme differently, and their practical significance can vary considerably. The question of MTHFR C677T vs. MTHFR A1298C is more complex.

With MTHFR and slow COMT, you may produce neurotransmitters inefficiently (MTHFR), but also break them down slowly (COMT). This can lead to fluctuating dopamine levels, periods of overstimulation or underperformance, and increased sensitivity to small biochemical changes.

MTHFR is one of those topics that can send parents down a rabbit hole very quickly. A child has anxiety, allergies, ADHD symptoms, food sensitivities, a tongue-tie, a sacral dimple, or a “sugar bug” vein between the eyes, and suddenly the internet says: “It’s MTHFR.” While it may be MTHFR, the truth is far more nuanced and definitely less scary.

Two human figures made of glowing wires and neor representing Norepinephrine and methylation. Norepinephrine is both a neurotransmitter in the brain and a hormone in the body, and more importantly, symptoms of low or high norepinephrine could tell us something about methylation patterns.

If you’ve been exploring your genetics, you may already be familiar with the MTHFR gene and its role in methylation. But if you also carry a slow MAOA variant, it adds an entirely different layer—one that directly impacts mood, stress response, and neurotransmitter balance. MTHFR and slow MAOA must be optimized together to avoid making symptoms worse.

PEMT quietly works alongside MTHFR, and when both are affected, the impact on health can be much more significant. MTHFR and PEMT must be managed together to avoid consequences to fertility, liver function, neurotransmitters, and more.