It turns out that even folks with an MTHFR gene variant who are more prone to methylation challenges, aka inefficiencies, can go decades (or even a lifetime) without realizing they have an MTHFR enzyme that operates suboptimally. “We can go a lot of years and not notice a lot of effects or issues. We might notice, ‘Oh, I have trouble with this,’ or ‘I feel down sometimes’—but who doesn’t, right? The signs are vague enough because they affect so many systems that it would be hard to say [suboptimal methylation] is the one cause—it’s usually multifactorial,” Carnahan explains. While it can be tough to pin down evidence that your methylation isn’t optimized, there are a few key factors that indicate your methylation cycle needs a little TLC. If you’re experiencing a handful of these signs, it could be time to discuss methylation status with your health care provider. Methylation is just one of many root concerns that lower energy levels could stem from. That said, if your energy is lower than you’d like (or expect) it to be after implementing actions to help it improve—such as exercising, optimizing your sleep, and eating a well-balanced diet—subpar methylation and/or an MTHFR genetic variant could be to blame. If you’re experiencing changes in your mood or ability to get deep, restful sleep, subpar methylation may be the culprit. Left unchecked, suboptimal homocysteine levels can lead to cardiovascular implications down the road. If you’re concerned with your homocysteine levels, be sure to schedule an appointment with your health care provider to discuss how to support your methylation cycle via optimizing homocysteine status. For methylation support and whole-body health, sufficient levels of all eight B vitamins is key, and make sure they are delivered in their most bioactive forms (for example, methylated folate, aka 5-MTHF, for folic acid).* Like all essential nutrients, it’s important to check your B vitamin levels every so often to ensure you’re getting enough. When our protein levels are not optimally regulated, it creates a need for additional methyl donors (i.e., the compounds involved in methylation). Physician Karyn Shanks, M.D., explains that restoring these physiological disparities can help provide adequate methyl donors and restore balance in the body. Whether methylation is to blame for your body’s struggle to effectively remove toxins or not, supporting your detox pathways is always a good idea for whole-body health and overall well-being. According to Shanks: “Bliss. No, really. If methylation is dialed in, so is everything else.” If you’re concerned that your methylation isn’t as optimized as it could be, consider talking to your health care provider about interventions to promote a healthy methylation cycle—such as a high-quality, targeted supplement that is gene-focused and delivers bioactive B vitamins like mbg’s methylation support+.*
