Vitamin B-9 and MTHFR variants

Objective

Do common variations in the MTHFR gene keep vitamin B from working? Can a group of ordinary people come together to find out? And maybe find a treatment?

Description

In the MTHFR gene (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase), 2 small variations in DNA (SNPs rs1801133/C677T & rs1801131/A1298C) keep vitamin B9 (or folic acid) from being metabolized into its active form (folate).

Without this form of vitamin B, homocysteine may accumulate. This may lead to nutritional deficiencies and symptoms associated with diabetes complications, including vascular damage and nerve damage. This is also associated with blood clots and pregnancy loss.

Up to 60% of people may have some form of MTHFR mutation.

We aim to:
  • Find people with MTHFR mutations - by collecting genotype data from volunteers who have used genetic testing services.
  • Try simple interventions - like special vitamin B supplements available over-the-counter.
  • See if they work - by asking participants to share results from blood tests performed at commercial labs.
Drug companies won't do this type of study -- there's little money to be made in over-the-counter treatments.

But we can. The tools to do this -- to look at genomic information, to measure treatment results, and to analyze the data -- are now cheap or free.

All we need are concerned people who care enough to help. Want to answer this question? Want to help build community and tools that let people take personal charge of their health?
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Inclusion Criteria

Please no participants with known vitamin B deficiences, anyone not able to follow the outlined vitamin protocol, or anyone who might have health problems related to high homocysteine levels.
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  • Check out the FAQ / informed consent (in development), and sign off on it.
  • Submit data on MTHFR variants.
  • Participate in at least 3 different 2 week trials, involving taking over-the-counter vitamins, then measuring homocysteine levels with a blood draw each time (blood tests cost about $70 each).
  • Record your blood test data here
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Discussion

DJDNA

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bluenomad

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isa

isa 'm heterozygous A1298C (on 23andme this is called rs1801131 GT) and wildtype C677T (on 23andme this is called rs1801133 GG). I've decided to switch from folic acid to methylfolate. and am willing to follow this study's protocol if one exists. I can't find the actual protocol?

gbiggers

gbiggers Because this was the very first study at Genomera, some of the protocol information is missing in the latest format. Let's see if the organizers can help.

gbiggers

gbiggers Raymond and Melanie, if you reach out to me, we can help get the protocol online here in the right format.

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EriGentry

EriGentry Hi Melanie and Raymond -- any plans to soup up the MTHFR study? Not saying it needs souping up, but I'd love to hear about future plans for this research!

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