These are the show notes for the podcast with Chris Masterjohn.

About Chris Masterjohn (00:00:00)

• Chris received his Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Connecticut
• We had him on a previous podcast (Carnivore Diet problems)

Chris’ Recommendations for MTHFR (00:00:38)

• Two variants: C677T (more severe activity) & A1298C (less severe) – there are 6 combinations
• There is a gradient of MTHFR activity across the population, evenly divided by 15-20% each
• Chris released a choline calculator – which gives you a methylfolate score
• For low MTHFR activity, add an extra 1.6mg riboflavin to your diet, RDA is 1.3mg
• If you are doing any exercise 5 days a week, or actively losing weight, you are increasing your riboflavin needs by about 60%
• The best-documented thing that having low methylfolate does is increases your need for choline
• Cheat sheet (testing nutritional status version 1.2)
• There is betaine in foods and supplements, and you can partially substitute your choline requirement with it

Recommendations Summary: (00:23:29)

• Increase your riboflavin
• Get more choline, take some methylfolate and creatine
• That will counteract the predispositions towards MTHFR

Glycine (00:24:19)

• Glycine acts as a buffer of methyl groups
• Glycine is important as an inhibitory neurotransmitter
• When you have too little methyl groups, you excrete more glycine

Methylfolate (00:26:16)

• Methylfolate is the off switch when you don’t have enough methyl groups
• The ideal way to supplement is to put it in water, or take a time-release form
• You want the methylfolate to shut off the glycine buffering system

Psychiatric disorders (00:36:32)

• Methylation donates methyl groups to an enzyme called COMT
• This regulates dopamine in ways that influence mental stability and flexibility
• The data is messy when you’re looking at MTHFR in the psychiatric disorders
• COMT interacts with nutrition to impact the supply of methyl groups
• By impacting the relative stability and flexibility of the mind, you wind up with OCD, depression, and anxiety

Homocysteine (00:39:54)

• What is the optimal range?
• The healthiest youngest people have 5-9, 7 is considered the middle

Blood tests (00:47:40)

• Quest or LabCorp – insurance friendly
• Amino acids, organic acids, homocysteine, nutrients test
• Copper levels, serum B9

LDL Status (00:55:52)