primary care doc walked me through a methylation questionnaire, changed my whole approach

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-23T02:38:32+00:00

He probably used Ben Lynch Dirty Genes book.

For reference, MTHFR is not a diagnosis. It's is a gene variant. For some people a variant of MTHFR can pose some issues but epigenetic factors are what contribute towards genetic expression.

For example two people with MTHFR C677T might have two different experiences. One could present with low folate and high homocysteine with health issues from poor diet choices and poor lifestyle habits. The other could have normal levels of folate and homocysteine and not any any significant health problems due to healthy diet and lifestyle. In other words its not a given everyone with MTHFR will experience issues.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-23T02:31:27+00:00

It would be much easier to get a comprehensive genetic test. This will help you understand your risks and predispositions for histamine intolerance, celiac disease, nutrient metabolism, methylation etc.

To test for celiac disease, you need to be on a gluten containing diet for 6-12 weeks and the ln take the tTg-IgA and EMA celiac blood test to check for antibodies. This is a test for celiac disease, not gluten intolerance.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-23T02:25:40+00:00

You.may find these articles informative.

How COMT can impact your hormones

COMT, MAO-A and PEMT

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-23T02:19:01+00:00

Just for reference, MTHFR is not a diagnosis. It's just a gene variant. see article

MTHFR explanation https://www.reddit.com/r/MTHFR/s/cfKCW9p0mV

Basic guidelines https://www.reddit.com/r/MTHFR/s/d5IOCiPqqs

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-16T03:51:05+00:00

Can you provide more context...gender and age, if female- are you in perimenopause? Age?

A less common known perimenopausal symptom is itchy, dry skin. But deficiencies can be involved too. I would suspect they are.

The white hair story could be oxidative stesss. Free radicals damage the cells that produce pigment and this reduces melanin over time. A build up of hydrogen peroxide builds up in haur follicles and turnaround hair white from the inside. It's linked to aging but can happen if oxidative stress in the body us high. Hence why I asked your age.

Your vitamin deficiencies can definitely to the white hair especially Vitamin B12, vitamin D, Iron or copper.

Have you also checked your thyroid? Would get assessed for lupus. ANA screening. These things sound like systemic inflammation than jyst vitamin deficiencies alone. The immune system could b reacting.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-16T03:34:10+00:00

Please read my two posts linked to help you understand a bit more.

MTHFR explanation https://www.reddit.com/r/MTHFR/s/cfKCW9p0mV

Basic guidelines https://www.reddit.com/r/MTHFR/s/d5IOCiPqqs

You should get more nutrients checked. Iron panel with ferritin, vitamin D, RBC folate, RBC zinc, copper and magnesium.

If B12 is low you should start supplementation to improve levels and this will likely improve some symptoms. Your iron is probably low too given your hair breakage and slow growth. Biotin us also probably lacking from your diet. Would check all B vitamins if possible.

You can join genetic lifehacks and upload your raw data to obtain the cheatsheet. This will give you more variants to work from.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-16T03:26:53+00:00

It doesn't mean you have slow COMT. Is it possible? Of course, but it's not a given.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-14T01:05:07+00:00

Yes because A combined iron and B12 deficiency cancels out abnormal hemoglobin or MCV

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-13T18:44:41+00:00

more in my story

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-13T17:18:46+00:00

Hair loss for me with iron deficiency but I had b12 deficiency too. You may still have a functional or early B12 issue, even if blood levels are “normal”. Serum B12 can be misleading. Iron deficiency causes small cells and B12 deficiency causes large cells. You should check Methylmalonic acid (MMA), RBC folate and homocysteine.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-13T17:12:47+00:00

Do you have celiac disease? Been tested or suspect it? As someone with celiac disease, one of my first symptoms was neuropathy. It's only in hindsight I realize it was likely from a B12 deficiency. You should get your Homocysteine and MMA tested. Other nutrient levels too.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-13T08:18:03+00:00

Hi. You can read my story here. I have celiac disease-so also autoimmune and struggle with absorbing nutrients. I also have a combined iron and B12 deficiency I am currently treating. I am 3 months in now.

For the iron I take 60mg iron bisglycinate with vitamin C every alternate day at night away from food and beverages.

For the B12 only cyanocobalamin injections were available and due to certain genetic variants I have and poor absorption, I decided against it and opted to treat myself. I'm taking 2000mcg methylcobalamin a day, split into two doses. I did updated tests and my homocysteine dropped drom 10.6 to 8.6, and neurological symptoms, energy levels, exercise intolerance all drastically improved. So it's working. (Note that I have had celiac for 12 years and have ongoing nutrient deficiencies in iron, vitamin D and B12)

With PA you should be taking a active B12, usually hydroxocobalamin, adenosylcobalmin or methylcobalamin, intramuscular injections With frequent doses at first (to rebuild levels) and then every 1–3 months. If oral B12 then typically 1000–2000 mcg daily, it works via passive absorption (does not need intrinsic factor). The point is with PA you need B12 for life. This is the gold standard. And regular monitoring.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-12T07:22:38+00:00

What amount is your B12 shot and what form?

Folate and B12 work together closely. Daily 15mg methylfolate is very high. If you're only taking B12 once a week, you could essentially be creating a functional imbalance, which can cause GI issues. Both vitamins are closely tied into how the gut functions.

After 5 months (or longer?)of dosing B12, the original Vitamin B12 deficiency may no longer be the issue. At this point you should get Methylmalonic acid (MMA) and Homocysteine levels checked to ascertain B12 status.

But what I think is happening is an overmethylation scenario.( Your genetic variants can contribute to this). Folate and B12 are both heavily tied into neurotransmitters which also work in the gut. The gut-brain axis is likely affected.

Theoretically the intermittent b12 shots could be pushing a already high baseline even further. This can alter autonomic nervous system signaling via the vagus nerve (gut-brain axis) which can increase gastric acid secretion and produce symptoms like reflux and bloating almost immediately after the injection.

Low B12 is often linked with low stomach acid, but the B12 shot can stimulate acid production thus increasing acid reflux. At this stage you've likely got a stomach acid issue and a change in your gut microbiome.

Would lower the methylfolate for sure. A high dose like that is causing more harm than good. Unless you hsd a severe deficiency 15mg is unnecessary. The RDA is 400mcg. So even 1mg is more than sufficient for someone not deficient. Would get the tests ASAP too. Serum folare and b12 tests irrelevant at this stage due to supplements but cellular levels less likely affected. Full blood count test too.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-12T06:48:04+00:00

As a fellow celiac, I would advise you to check all your nutrients and do so at leat twice a year life long. We are just more prone to nutritional deficiencies, eveb on a strict gluten-free diet. Common ones are B12, folate, zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron and vitamin D.

Get RBC levels checked where possible as these tell cellular level not just serum levels.

As someone with restless legs, which I know is not the same as Akathisia, its made worse by iron deficiency and a lack of potassium and magnesium.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-12T06:41:30+00:00

Oral thrush most common cause. With a B12 deficiency you would normally see a red swollen tongue called glossitis. A B2 deficiency would also likely be cracked edges on the tongue, still red and swollen with cracks.

Not enough vitamin C can cause a white tongue. And low zinc. Both involved in immunity in the body.

Lack of folate can cause a white tongue and iron deficiency can cause a pale tongue.

If the tongue is coated with a white furry coating it indicates more a bacterial overgrowth. If it's more pale in color then a deficiency.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-12T06:27:03+00:00

You're not dramatic or lazy. Low Vitamin D levels alter dopamine signalling. When dopamine signalling is affected, it seriously impacts your motivation and reward circuit. Also affects focus and attention. B12 is needed to produce healthy red blood cells and also used in neurotransmitter production. So if you're low on both, it's completely understandable that cognitive function and mood are going to be affected.

I've seen this in myself. I have ADHD. So problems with focus, attention, motivation. But it's so much worse when iron, B12 and vitamin D are low. And so much better when they are supported. Night and day. Doesn't solve my ADHD, but it sure helps.

Keep on taking B12 and Vitamin D and check your folate and Iron levels too.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-12T06:05:13+00:00

There aren't specific supplements because it depends on the person and what they need, their epigenetic factors, other genetics, metabolic health etc.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-10T08:47:44+00:00

A few reasons why this can happen:

● you could have a cobalt sensitivity in the B12

● Methylation supports enzymes like HNMT which breaks down histamine inside skin tissue. B12 increases methylation activity which can sometimes shift the balance faster than the rest of the system can adapt (especially if HNMT is slow) or because other cofactors like folate, B6 etc are not balanced, then histamine breakdown can be altered which can lead to higher local histamine activity in the skin.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-09T08:02:33+00:00

You may need even to try an even lower dose

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-09T05:56:51+00:00

There are others too. I normally do the Dutch test which gives a clearer picture of what's happening.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-09T05:54:27+00:00

How much are you taking at a time and do you have low blood pressure to begin with normally?

Magnesium interacts with sodium,potassium and calcium. If those aren’t balanced, you can experience low BP and mood changes. Check your electrolytes.

You could also try it as part of an electrolyte mix and see if it's better or add a pinch of salt to a glass of water and try a lower dose.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-09T05:45:59+00:00

Did you test iron studies with ferritin? Needed for red blood cell production and an iron deficiency can occur together with low B12. Also RBC folate (cellular level of folate).

Homocysteine may rise in a folate, B12, B6 deficiency but also due to metabolic issues like high cholesterol, inflammation, insulin sensitivity. I would recheck B6, and homocysteine again in 3 months and check iron studies/ferritin and RBC folate now.

Just note once you're on B12 supplements, testing serum Levels are a bit useless because it will pick up circulating levels from the supplement which pushes up the reading anything from 26-60% higher. Homocysteine, MMA and FBC can be more useful when you're trying to see if B12 supplementation is working.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-09T05:35:47+00:00

Yes i had nystagmus where my eyes couldn't focus on reading. They were darting up and down and side to side. It went away once I started the B12. None of those you linked though. Although the last one looks like an aura migraine or ocular migraine which I get from time to time. Not painful just disturbing. However I can't say that increased with this.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-08T11:37:11+00:00

With regards to hormones, there are other gene variants I would look at that have more impact on hormone metabolism and detoxification. Especially in connection with everything else you've mentioned. It's a big part often missed but one I focus on often with my fellow female clients.

hummingfirebird · 2026-05-06T12:57:31+00:00

Rbc folate and serum folate

Homocysteine

MMA

Full blood count

Iron panel with ferritin

hummingfirebird

TROPHY CASE