My mother has gotten senile. So when she recently told me about how she thought she had some sort of genetic folate absorption problem, it was a little short on details, and she hasn't seen the physician who diagnosed her for decades. But she has been supplementing with folic acid for years, and attributes it to a big improvement in her health.
Well, it's a bit problematic. But when she told me back in my early 20s that she had a problem eating wheat—something she doesn't remember at all now—I should have listened.
 |
| Solgar Folate 1,333 MCG DFE (Metafolin® 800 mcg) |
So, I figured I'd give it a shot. Supplementing with folate (the natural form, don't supplement with folic acid) seemed pretty harmless, so I bought the brand Chris Kresser recommends, and proceeded.
I noticed some benefits (mainly concerning anxiety) right away. That was kind of what I was looking for, and it was in the list of symptoms that my mother had mentioned. I noticed that if I didn't take it, the anxiety returned, so I set a reminder in my calendar to take it,
I also recommended it to my daughter, who has had some pretty severe anxiety issues over the years, which the "health professionals" have been useless at treating.
Interesting. I get canker sores when I am stressed, which could me that I am burning through more folate during that time. Ill try it out in small doses and note any effects.
ReplyDeleteHow much were you taking each day? (Did I miss that part?)
ReplyDeleteSome of those links talked about the ratio of B9 and B12, and a zinc deficiency for an overdose symptom. Is this one of those supplements that need to be balanced with other vitamins?
We were talking to a doctor last week who said he can't take folate without eating something. Do you know if you took it on an empty stomach?
1 pill a day, 800 mcg. Not included in the post.
DeleteTucker: Maybe that was too much folate to take daily. You might do better with a multiple vitamin that includes RDA amounts (or slightly higher) of methylfolate, plus the ACTIVE forms of B6 (pyridoxal-5-phosphate) and B12 (methylcobalamin). A couple weeks after starting such a multivitamin, I noticed I was no longer "dead" in the afternoons. The active B vitamins seemed to eliminate my lifelong longing for an afternoon siesta. I had previously had limited success in reducing the extreme afternoon sleepiness by shifting my eating to earlier in the day (not eating at night), but still used to feel subdued and lacking energy in the p.m. After starting the methylated active B vitamins, I found myself going out and about in the afternoons! It's as if my body switched to a different operating system.
ReplyDeleteAbout the bone growth, I developed bony lumps in my second toes - likely due to shoes rubbing against them. This happened BEFORE I ever tried the methylfolate, so I can't blame the folate.
What happened with you and cod liver oil? I didn't find anything about it on your blog. I started taking cod liver oil after learning I had a genetic impairment in converting carotenoids to retinol (I have numerous such mutations - can I blame my Arctic ancestors?). Anyhow, the winter after I started taking the cod liver oil, I was so pleased to be able to SEE to drive at night. I had thought I would have to give up night driving due to "age" - nope!
P.S. Thanks for your efforts to spread the warnings about seed oils. I recently discovered I have the main SNPs for the FADS-D haplotype - meaning I'm super good at converting omega-6 linoleic acid to the very inflammatory arachidonic acid. I get odd inflammatory reactions to stuff - including upper back/shoulder pain after eating spicy sausages (could be the paprika - curse those nighshades!). Given that seed oils themselves can produce inflammation, I have yet another reason to avoid them!
Yes, I'm familiar with bone spurs caused by abrasion, never had one of those. There was no abrasion in that spot, except my tongue!
DeleteYou are welcome!
Tucker is this related to the mthfr snm? I have a close family member who has two copies of the mthfr gene variant which means she has to take methly folate and methyl cobolamin and I'm not sure what else. She only found this out in the last couple of years and there are lots of problems associated with it.
ReplyDeleteeg https://www.healthline.com/health/mthfr-gene#variants
Great point about MTHFR, Passthecream! Anyone who does a DNA test that includes many health-related SNPs (such as 23andMe, Ancestry and/or Living DNA) can search their raw DNA files for MTHFR SNPs. For people who are new to health DNA, but who are prepared to dig and digest medical literature, they can upload their raw file to Promethease. For a nominal fee - it was around $12-$15 - you get a voluminous report suggesting health topics that could be personally relevant. From then on, it is up to you to figure stuff out by searching for, say, "methylation" and then researching. (For that cheap fee, don't expect comprehensive or concierge service!) Promethease is where I got started. Health and genetics becomes much more interesting if you can see how it directly affects you.
DeleteNot sure, I've never had a gene test, and my mother doesn't remember the details.
DeleteTucker, getting a test for mthfr enzyme status is probably one you should take if you have folate issues. It is probably available as a single specific test.
DeleteNot a bad idea.
DeletePretty spooky. I assume I get enough folate from regular beef liver consumption, but I had no idea that it might be implicated in calcium deposition. I'll need to do more digging into possible pathways, very interesting post.
ReplyDeleteNo sitting and barefoot walking or running is an excellent start to preventing or resolving the back symptoms you describe.
ReplyDeleteThe book I recommend to patients is " Back Mechanic" by Stuart McGill. I have had several nationally ranked athletes who have completely resolved their chronic back problems by using that manual.
I haven't had any back problems in +10 years. This was very abnormal for me, as even when I have pulled muscles (like from mountain biking) It's never been like this.
DeleteTucker. About those mouth sores. I researched this like 20 years ago and found that tooth pastes with sodium lauryl sulfate can cause them.
ReplyDeleteMy wife had this problem and after changing to sensodyne, a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate, the problem completely disappeared.
Perhaps something that might help.
Interesting, my toothpaste does indeed include that ingredient. Thanks for the recommendation.
DeleteWhen browsing DNA data yesterday, I came across an article about oral bone growth and remembered your experience! The article titled "Dental anomalies in pediatric patients with familial adenomatous polyposis" starts "Familial adenomatous polyposis patients often present with non-malignant extra-intestinal manifestations which include dental anomalies that may be evident prior to the appearance of the colonic adenomas." The "dental anomalies" are jaw osteomas (bone growths) - they can be a sign of intestinal polyps! People don't usually associate the jaw with the colon! This is something to keep in mind in case you ever develop other symptoms.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm off the folate for the time being. Luckily colon issues don't run in the family, and I was clean for polyps when I had my colonoscopy prior to my colon resection.
Delete