MTHFR Gene Mutations and Detoxification Difficulties

The MTHFR gene mutation is one of the biggest hurdles of treating people with Lyme disease or MSIDS. When people cannot tolerate antimicrobial herbs or even antibiotics in small doses, then the detoxification pathway is compromised. Methylated B vitamins is what not to take! Without going into much detail, the MTHFR gene mutation is a genetic mutation that gets turned on in people wh develop chronic infections. The inability to detoxify with chronic infections can be very frustrating. People cannot ever feel better unless proper detoxification takes place. With the MTHFR gene mutation, folic acid is commonly not converted in the body to methyl folate. Methyl folate is helpful, but NOT ESSENTIAL, as some doctors who self-refer themselves to as “epigenetic specialists” say methyl folate is essential with detoxification.

People many times get worse with methyl folate supplementation, as methyl folate and methylcobalamin feed many types of bacteria, protozoa and intracellular infections. Many scientific laboratory studies show certain infections are methylcobalamin and or methylfolate dependent.

It is interesting to also know that antifolate [dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)] medications are provided to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions to REDUCE INFLAMMATION and other immune related symptoms by restricting microbial folate assimilation on folate dependent pathogens.  

There are other ways to help detoxify the body without methylfolate and methylcobalamin supplementation. S-acetyl glutathione can be used daily in high doses; however, people should work up to a high dose of 800-1,500mg per day and not begin at a higher dose right away.

Here is a short piece of a case study; A 21-year-old male with diagnosed Lyme disease with bartonella and babesia co-infections presents with debilitating anxiety, electrical-like sharp shooting pains throughout the body, seizures, dermatological disorders and more on the initial intake. The patient began at a small dose of 1⁄2 scoop once per day in a shot of hot water, along with dietary modifications. The patient’s symptoms increased immediately after 1⁄2 scoop (half gram – very small amount). The patient was then prescribed 400mg x2/daily of s-acetyl glutathione before resuming the herbs. After taking the supplement for 5 days, the patient began the herbs again. The patient was able to move up quickly to a full dose of 4 full 1gm scoops twice per day in a cup of hot water. Once Spiro-Clear was at a full dose for five days, the patient then began Intra-Cell I and was able to move up to 4 scoops twice per day within a 2-week period of time. The patient resumed full doses of both formulas for some time. Within 1 month, all of the chronic symptoms were under control, with minor intermittent symptoms. The patient felt better than he had in years. 3 weeks later the patient stated he seemed to be in a relapse phase and was not doing well. He stated he was at a half dose of both formulas and not tolerating them well. He reported he had run out of s-acetyl glutathione two weeks prior. It was recommended to told him that he cannot go without those two supplements for the duration of the treatment. He got back on the s-acetyl glutathione and immediately was able to get back up to a full dose of both formulas.

There are those people who are not as ill and may not need detoxification support beyond the herbal formulas. It is good to know who needs added detox support and who may not before treatment begins, to offset undesirable results as people get started. This takes experience, but generally, the people who are quite ill, need it.

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