Have you been tested for an MTHFR gene defect? There are two, 1298c and 677t, and they both can have similar negative effects. Dr. Mischley tested me in 2013 and I have the MTHFR 1298c defect. It may be as common as 1:32 people. This defect inhibits me from reducing the vitamin folate into 5-methyl folate which in turn foils the recycling of another vitamin called tetrahydrobiopterin (THB).
Brace yourself :-)
Tetrahydrobiopterin has the following responsibilities as a cofactor:
- Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) for the conversion of L-tryptophan (TRP) to 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
- Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) for conversion of L-phenylalanine (PHE) toL-tyrosine (TYR)
- Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) for the conversion of L-tyrosine to L-DOPA(DOPA)
- Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) for conversion of a guanidino nitrogen of L-arginine (L-Arg) to nitric oxide (NO)
- Alkylglycerol monooxygenase(AGMO) for the conversion of 1-alkyl-sn-glycerol to 1-
hydroxyalkyl-sn-glycerol.
So this can really mess you up in a lot of ways (so every person should be tested).
Note that it foils the production of dopamine at two places: phenylalanine to tyrosine, and tyrosine to LDOPA. Thus in the myriad of health problems it can cause, one of them can be Parkinson's. Looks like I may have drawn that card. But with the likelihood of the gene defect, I bet many PD sufferers have drawn that card.
So the good news is that both 5-Methyl Folate (5MF, easy to get) and THB (very hard to get) are supplements. I had been taking 5MF, but I just in the last three weeks discovered the 400 mcg per day I was taking was nowhere near enough. Realizing the above and that 5MF is a water soluble B vitamin, I've gradually increased my dose to as much as 11,000 mcg per day.
Great results so far! My dystonia symptoms subsided about 90%, rigidity decreased, and remaining PD medicine on-time increased. I lost 15 pounds too, and have better sleep and digestion. I feel more relaxed. No negatives.
Get tested. Consider 5MF!
More info at MTHFR.net
God Bless,
Glen
