This is article 3 in a three part series...
Testing Only the MTHFR Gene and Treating Based on That.
The MTHFR gene is being widely discussed. More doctors are coming to know about it because it is located at a site that profoundly impacts making methyl groups. Methyl groups have come into prominence because of their central regulatory function in your body's biochemistry and their multiple significant impacts on the function of your genes.
A number of genes have an impact on making methyl groups, not just MTHFR. You need to use genetic testing that tells you about the whole methylation pathway so you can get that pathway balanced and functioning. It is distinctly non-optimal if your clinician tests only the MTHFR genes. If these genes come back abnormal, and you are handed the current remedies, high dose methyltetrahydrofolate and methyl B 12, your condition may be made significantly worse.
Some people can tolerate 5 methyltetrahydrofolate and methyl B12 and do well on them. But you may not have the appropriate genetics to take significant methyl donor supplementation without developing symptoms that can take months or years to resolve. The more sick you are, the more possible it is that high dose methyl donors may be a chemical stressor for you. If you are sick enough, you may not recognize what made you worse. You may be told to stay the course, that what you are experiencing is part of the treatment. Ultimately, this is a mess.
Among all the functions in your body, making methyl groups and attaching them to or detaching them from the other molecules in your body is right up there with respiration, absorbing food and fluid, and having a functioning energy production cycle. The biochemicals in your body must be moved along their respective pathways by methyl groups. The genes in your body must be methylated correctly so that they express optimally. Then the other efforts that you are making will move you forward in a sustained way.
Some of you have serious, disabling disorders. These are complex problems and need to be handled precisely. You need to use techniques that have the capacity to actually get you well, to start you at A, and proceed to B, then C, and ultimately to wellness. You need to recover or you may spend your whole life handicapped.
At the same time that the production of methyl groups and the attachment of them to the other molecules in your biochemistry is tremendously important, it is also critical not to get overwhelmed. The foundation for good health is right diet, the right diet for you, whatever that is. You find out what it is by observation, study and consulting clinicians or nutritional counselors. If you are eating a food that produces a symptom, you will not get rid of the symptom without changing what you are doing. It is only logical.
After right diet, you need right supplementation. You discover what that is by getting genetic testing. Then you get other testing that tells you how to optimize your biochemistry and correct any abnormalities you may have. It's not a total mystery and it's not magic. It's a steady plodding day by day to discover what you need to do to recover your well being and to actually get yourself to do it. It's best if you have hope. If you don't have that, you may be depressed. There are solutions for that also. It's one day at a time....
I have a free, downloadable ebook at NancyMullanMD.com that gives you some additional general information about these matters. Click here to download.
If you want expert help personalized to your unique body chemistry, 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.
My fee for this service is $129. It is easy to set a time for this conversation, and it can save you weeks or months of doing the wrong thing, lurching around in the dark with a clinician who doesn’t know anything about the genetics or molecular biology of MTHFR. You may be dealing with conditions in your body that are confusing and difficult to understand. I can help you cut through all of that and give you clarifying input that moves you in the right direction.
I look forward to being able to help,
Dr. Mullan
What people like you are saying about Dr. Mullan’s work:
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.
JVW
Wow. I feel great. Thank you for your help. It's amazing really. Like a light turned on. Curious to see what the next tests show. To ride this peak indefinitely is my goal. Ha. I have energy again. Yay!
Really grateful,
DG
I am so relieved. My daughter is doing SO WELL since we started with you! We have been to so many doctors and tried so many things.Now I can start working on my own program with you....
GV
So excellent! I literally learn something every single time and I get clarification on things that have been lingering in my mind… VB
You are giving people a huge gift by empowering them… It’s about helping the patient become their own healer by taking them to a higher level of consciousness… AL
Thank you so much, Dr. Mullan. Thank you so, so much for everything you do. MS
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!
MG
"Dr. Nancy Mullan is a beautiful person. She is an expert in her field and has helped our family so much. I am very grateful to her. She came highly recommended and I know why. I would recommend her and her website for information re: healing from a genetic point of view. Thank you, Dr. Mullan, for everything.”
GD
"Dr.Mullan has helped me with issues that I have struggled with for years. She is knowledgable and practical. I would recommend her to others.”
BC