MTHFR A1298C Mutations and Depression
MTHFR A1298C is the gene mutation that has the most direct impact on mood. A mutation in this gene interferes with neurotransmitter formation by down regulating the production of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). BH4 is necessary for both dopamine and serotonin synthesis. Both of these neurotransmitters are known for their impact on mental function and mood.
The main function of dopamine is to activate the reward centers in your brain impacting motivation. Dopamine also controls vital functions that affect mood, sleep, memory, learning, concentration and motor control. Its actions are complex. Too little dopamine may contribute to inability to move your muscles, as well as low energy, inability to focus, fatigue, lack of motivation, feeling sad or tearful, mood swings, low self-esteem, or hopelessness.
Serotonin is called the 'feel good' neurotransmitter. It is key to mood regulation; pain perception; gastrointestinal function, including perception of hunger and satiety; and other physical functions. It can trigger the constriction of blood vessels in your brain that cause migraine headaches. It is not a simple substance with a single function, but it is clear that low serotonin is associated with depression.
Dopamine and serotonin work together to balance mood. They are a part of two distinct and very complex systems that have the appearance of working antagonistically. But dopamine and serotonin both work at the nerve endings, and what looks like antagonism can be only very superficial in a cooperation that results in a good mood and other desired outcomes.
BH4 is related to folate and can be found in bee pollen, Royal Jelly, and Pteridin-D which you can get from Holistic Health International. If you are a health care provider, you can get Pteridin-D from Ecological Formulas. This may help your mood if the problem is from an MTHFR A1298C mutation. But it may not be that simple. Mood is complex and can result from a number of factors, most pertinent of which is problem diet and the wrong organisms in your GI tract.
I have a free, downloadable ebook that you can opt in for at NancyMullanMD.com that gives you further detail about these issues. Click here to get your free ebook.
If your mood is persistently bad, you may need some help figuring out what to do about it. Especially if you feel that you have 'tried everything' including pharmaceuticals, you can consider getting an Exploratory Conversation with me. This is a 30-minute conversation in which I will listen to your health issues, review your test results, and make recommendations about what I think you should do. You can tell me all of the things you have tried and I will give you my input about what you can consider next.
The fee for this service is $129. The MTHFR A1298C mutation has nothing to do with 5 methyl folate. It is a different mutation from MTHFR C677T entirely. It works in a totally different way. If you want to see my information about exactly what an MTHFR A1298C mutation does, how it alters your biochemistry, click here. You need background in the basic information about these mutations and some help to deal with this complex situation.
I look forward to being able to help you, Dr. Mullan
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I shudder at the thought of what my family would be like without Dr. Mullan. Thankfully, with her help, we have stopped my husband's chronic 30 year battle with kidney stones. He is no longer forming them and is stone free. My thyroid is now working normally, my body temperature is almost normal and my hair has grown back. My oldest daughter's Autism is in the process of being reversed and her hair pulling has stopped. The greatest blessing from our good health is the birth of my second daughter Ava, now one-year-old. At 50 years old I carried her to term. One of my doctors commented to me saying “ you are carrying this baby like a 22-year-old.” Yes, I am because of Dr. Mullan and working on my methylation pathway. One by one she is knocking off symptoms and bringing us back to health. The future is bright! Thank you, Dr. Mullan, for the work you do.
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Wow! I have to tell you, this was such an uplifting session. It’s so nice to hear good news, especially about a child. Anxiety, OCD and a host of other mental/psychiatric symptoms have been a huge hurdle for me. So to hear this story of all those awful symptoms totally going away is such a bright light for me!!!! TR
Fantastic, caring, smart, savvy doc. I worked with Dr. Mullan for a couple of years to help MTHFR mutations and their associating expressions! To say the least! She's brilliant. At that time she had weekly calls for her patients - free - where we could ask questions and she would reply. What doctors do this? She does. She's also an animal lover and is right on about the way she practices medicine. I highly recommend her. In good health!
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