LYME DISEASE, MTHFR, and LOW GLUTATHIONE
If you have chronic Lyme disease (or any other chronic disease), it’s equally important to know if you have an MTHFR gene mutation, and the reason is simply detoxification. The C677T impacts the methionine cycle and helps convert homocysteine to methionine. Most need support reducing homocysteine. The A1298C impacts the BH4 cycle. This is important because most need to support creating BH4 and preventing NOS uncoupling (which can lead to the process of creating the very damaging molecule, Peroxynitrite.)
However, let's not get stuck on MTHFR and methylation. There is also DHFR, it's just as important and not usually mentioned in the literature. Why? Because it can lead to a 3X increase in colon rectal cancer if you ingest too much 'folic acid,' as opposed to folate. There's a litany of other genes that are upstream and downstream from MTHFR and those need to be taken into consideration as well. We all have some of these 'loss of function' genes or SNPs. There are many supplements, methods, and techniques for detoxifying the body, however, in the midst of all these detoxification methods, rarely do you hear about the body’s own natural master detoxification agent - glutathione. Most chronically ill people have very low glutathione and many have the glutathione variant SNPs that may oxidize their glutathione. This glutathione is very important. If you don't make it, you should take it.
To keep the subject of genes simple, the MTHFR is a gene that is directly responsible for producing glutathione for the body, and a mutation with the MTHFR gene results in lower levels of glutathione in the body. This translates into toxins, generated in the body by Lyme, co-infections, mold, viruses, candida, parasites, and environmental toxins, not being detoxified efficiently and keeping a person with chronic Lyme from getting better.
When it comes to treating chronic Lyme disease, one of the first steps in healing is usually to kill the bacteria. While reducing the bacteria’s load within the body is important to an extent, but detoxification is just as equally important. After all, a weakened immune system is a big contributor for Lyme disease going chronic in the first place and a toxic body will surely compromise the immune system and keep it that way. Toxins that hang around in the body of a person with chronic Lyme disease will not only keep a person from getting better from chronic Lyme disease, but these toxins that hang around will continue to create cytokine cascades in the body - the symptoms a person with chronic Lyme disease experiences.
In order to reduce the bacteria’s load with an equally important and efficient detoxification protocol, the body’s own innate detoxification system must be supported first before additional and popular detoxification supplements, methods, and techniques are brought in to help; this is done with nutrition and 'specific' supplementation. Aside from nutritional support, diet, adequate sleep and water consumption, glutathione levels must be optimal in order for the body’s basic detoxification system to meet the toxic demand of chronic Lyme disease.
Glutathione is the body’s master detoxification agent, a powerful antioxidant the body produces, and it’s used for processing toxins in the liver. Toxins that aren’t processed efficiently due to low levels of glutathione will hang around and help contribute to a person’s symptoms and their continued Lyme presence. Find out how to increase one's glutathione levels through the use of our 'Glutathione Accelerator.' It assists the body in manufacturing it's own glutathione. Learn more with a Functional Genomic Analysis Consult.
Additional SNP Facts:
There is so much more than MTHFR that effect Lyme patients. Many Lyme folks have similar genetic patterns that compromise their ability to get better. There are actually about 10-15 other SNP patterns that play a more important role than the recently popular MTHFR! For example, HFE, or the hemochromatosis and iron oxidation SNPs. These SNPs are huge when it comes to Lyme sufferers! Iron is inflammatory and may be a factor in destruction of the myelin sheath. The HLA SNPs affect your sensitivity/intolerance to gluten and your propensity toward celiac disease. They also impact probiotics and other factors that impact gut health. HLA SNPs were brought the the forefront by Richie Shoemaker. HLA genes code various proteins on the outer portion of cells. The immune system uses HLA to determine the difference between 'self' and 'non-self.' These genes have been associated with an inability of the body to recover from illnesses resulting from Lyme disease, molds, and other sources. Find out how we can help!
