Understanding the role of zinc in supporting methylation can help those with MTHFR mutations improve their methylation balance and overall well-being.

The connection between MTHFR gene mutations and blood clot risk often centers on homocysteine levels. The common story goes like this: if you have an MTHFR mutation, your homocysteine will be high, and that means you face a greater risk of blood clots. But this narrative oversimplifies a complex relationship.

When you receive blood test results showing high folate levels, it might seem positive at first. However, it can signal a potential issue with MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) function and highlight risks related to unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) buildup in the bloodstream.

Blood tests for folate have one big fatal flaw, making them both innaccurate and functionally useless, and the most common folate levels that we see on the blood tests of people with MTHFR might surprise you.

The idea that methyl folate could be a better option than folic acid in prenatal vitamins is controversial, because folic acid has been the fertility go-to treatment since it was discovered in the 1930s. The issue is, MTHFR had NOT been discovered in the 1930s, and the research hadn't really dived into the genetic needs of infertile couples yet.