mental health

MTHFR

The Link Between Folate Metabolism and Attention (MTHFR)

Written by Aleksa Ristic, MS (Pharmacy) on September 8th, 2020

The MTHFR gene helps produce a crucial enzyme in folate metabolism. Read on to learn the link between this gene, your diet & attention disorders.

Summary

The MTHFR gene enables folate metabolism and homocysteine removal, helping to prevent attention disorders.Different gene variants reduce MTHFR activity and correlate with attention disorders such as ADHD.Specific foods and supplements may help you maintain optimal attention by targeting your gene variants.

The Link Between MTHFR & Attention

The MTHFR gene codes for a crucial enzyme in folate metabolism [R].

Increased MTHFR activity helps remove homocysteine, which can adversely affect cognition and attention [R, R, R].

Folate deficiency and elevated homocysteine correlate with attention disorders such as ADHD [R, R].

The MTHFR gene enables folate metabolism and homocysteine removal, which helps prevent attention disorders.

Your MTHFR Results for Attention

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs1801131
rs2274976
rs4846049

Primary SNP:

MTHFR rs1801131 [R, R, R]:

‘G’ – associated with attention disorders such as ADHD
‘T’ – not associated with attention disorders
The ‘G’ allele reduces MTHFR activity and impairs folate metabolism, contributing to elevated homocysteine [R].
Some studies failed to confirm the link between this SNP and attention disorders [R, R].

Other important SNPs:

MTHFR rs2274976 [R]:

‘T’ – associated with impaired attention & cognition
‘C’ – not associated with attention disorders
The effect of this variant was significant only in patients deficient in folate and vitamin B12.

MTHFR rs4846049 [R]:

‘T’ – associated with attention disorders such as ADHD
‘G’ – not associated with attention disorders
The ‘T’ allele reduces MTHFR activity and impairs folate metabolism, contributing to elevated homocysteine [R].

Recommendations

Diet and Supplements

Folate

People with attention disorders are more likely to lack dietary folate [R, R].

Folate deficiency contributes to the negative effects of MTHFR variants [R].

Folate supplementation may reduce the side effects of ADHD drug treatment [R].

Get enough folate from beef liver, leafy greens, whole grains, and fortified foods; consider taking a supplement if deficient [R].

Optimal folate intake may help prevent attention disorders by targeting your gene variants.

Vitamin B12

Attention disorders such as ADHD correlate with vitamin B12 deficiency [R, R, R].

MTHFR variants have a stronger effect on attention when vitamin B12 status is low [R].

Get enough of this vitamin from animal foods, especially organ meats [R].

If you can’t maintain optimal B12 levels with diet, consider taking a supplement.

Get enough vitamin B12 to lessen the impact of your gene variants on attention.

Aleksa Ristic

MS (Pharmacy)

Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.

Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions—writing and health—and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

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Summary The Link Between MTHFR & Attention Your MTHFR Results for Attention

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