MTHFR and Pyroluria Adventure Part 10 - Learnings From the MTHFR Support Info Night

What I learnt at the MTHFR Support info night. [Disclaimer: it is possible I've made errors in my explanations here, do let me know if you know better. I'm doing my best to remember what I learnt but I'm still just getting my head around all this):

1) Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in the methylation cycle. If one has a MTHFR mutation and so is supplementing with methyl donor supplements like I am (I take methionine) but isn't able to absorb vitamin B12 from food properly due to low stomach acid, or is taking a not very bioavailable form of supplemental B12 (which for many people is any form of swallowed B12 supplement) then one can end up with a build up of methyl-groups, which is bad news. I know I have low stomach acid and that I do best taking a sublingual B12 supplement (that absorbs under the tongue, not swallowed), however since starting on my fancy MTHFR supplementation which includes B12 in a capsule, I stopped taking my sublingual B12. After considering the above I decided to take a sublingual B12 after the info night and see if I noticed a difference. Well, I slept amazingly well and felt incredible the next morning, the most normal/with-it/functional I've felt in ages. Thinking that means I haven't been absorbing vitamin B12 from my (bloody expensive) supplements and have been getting a build up of methyl groups as a result.

2) 'Tiger stripes' like my burn-like marks are not a sign of heavy metal detoxification like my doctor said, but are a sign of over-methylation, ie not being able to use methyl groups properly, leading to a build up in the body. Since I was diagnosed as a severe undermethylator it would seem that the supplements I've been taking have successfully addressed that issue with their donating of methyl groups and have done such a good job that I've now been pushed to the other extreme (just like the shaman said)! Lol. A new problem, but not one that can't be fixed by just cutting back on the supps and making sure that ALL parts of the methylation cycle are being addressed (so that includes taking sublingual B12, not just the B12 in my capsules).

3) Folate (vitamin B9) is also super important in the methylation cycle. I presumed I was getting my folate from green leafy veggies. What I had forgotten was that folate is heat sensitive, and that my prefered way of eating green leafy veggies since my digestion broke down (due to the Doxycycline episode), ie soupy and soggy, ain't going to be giving me much folate! No wonder I'd start to feel exhausted after a couple of days of no salad or lightly steamed veggies, and that I'd feel remarkably better after making myself green juices .Lol. Oh I feel silly. Oh well, much great learning!

Gene Testing, MTHFR Support Australia, and Gut Pro

Going the whole hog. Doing the 23andme thing and getting my entire DNA analysed. Is there such a thing as too much information?? I think so. Still, it doesn't seem to be stopping me!

In other news I went to one of MTHFR Support Australia's information nights last night. Despite being clever marketing on their part, it was excellent. A lot of stuff I already knew, but I did hear some key things that I hadn't previously considered as well as some very interesting feedback on my weird spontaneously appearing burn marks. Will post more over the next few days.

Also, did I mention I was thinking of trying GutPro; a pretty hard-core probiotic? It arrived today and I started with with a very small (1/64th tsp) dose. I am now hoping that my body won't explode as billions of new bacteria engage in microbial warfare with my current bacterial residents; their ultimate plan being to recolonise my digestive tract with their own species. Good for them! And that, apparently, is one of the things that sets GutPro apart from other probiotics. Most probiotics are (I have been told, but should do more research) only of benefit as they pass through your digestive tract; helping you to digest this something over here, killing off that something unwanted over there, until their journey through you comes to an end. GutPro on the other hand, apparently, actually helps to recolonise your digestive tract. So they actively kill off the 'bad guys', stake their claim and start having having babies. What with my numerous affairs with intravenous antibiotics over the years and recent fling with Doxycycline, I figured a bit of recolonisation might be what I need.

So I took that first dose about 45 mins ago. Now I feel distinctively fluffy in the head and my jaw muscles have become oddly tense. I'm not too worried, side-effects are normal as the war on unwelcome microbial squatters begins, as when bacteria die they release chemical compounds which have an effect on your body, this is often referred to as 'die-off'. However there is also the risk of your body just not tolerating the new bacteria so one needs to pay attention. Will keep you posted.

If you're interested in trying Gut Pro, the amazing Kitsa of Kitsa's Kitchen is the Australian distributor. It might seem expensive at $130 but it's powerful stuff and you use teeeny tiny amounts. And those measuring spoons might also seems expensive at $10 but you really need something that can accurately measure those teeny amounts. And they're cute-as with their little names. How can you get cranky at measuring spoons with names like 'Drop', 'Smidgen', 'Pinch', 'Dash', 'Tad'? I couldn't. I love them. $10 well spent I say.