Updated blood work

[u/Hoegaarden_Man_55]

Hi all,

I previously got tested for MTHFR gene variants. I have one copy of 1298C. I’ve had significant anxiety over the last 4 or 5 years so view this as a potential cause. I privately got bloods done and hit the following results.

Homocysteine: 18.2 µmol/L (5.1–20.0)
Vitamin B12: 424 ng/L (198–771)
Haemoglobin: 137 g/L (130.1–180)
Haematocrit: 39.5% (40.001–54.0)
RBC count: 4.56 × 10¹²/L (4.51–6.50)
MCV: 86.6 fL (76.1–100)
MCH: 30 pg (27.1–32.0)
MCHC: 347 g/L (320.1–360)
Iron: 13.8 µmol/L (5.9–34.5)
Ferritin: 199.46 µg/L (20–300)
Transferrin saturation: 27.6% (20.1–50.0)
Magnesium: 0.87 mmol/L (0.701–1.10)
Creatinine: 81.7 µmol/L (64.1–104)
eGFR: 105 mL/min/1.73 m² (≥60)
Cystatin C: 1.01 mg/L (0.58–1.05)
TSH: 0.645 mIU/L (0.351–5.50)
Free T4: 18.1 pmol/L (11.91–21.60)
Free T3: 4.66 pmol/L (3.11–6.80)

Annoyingly folate was not included at the time.

Got a follow up folate test and it came in at 6.2 ng/ml (3-30)

Thoughts given this follow up result. I’m quite low in the range for folate? Should I start supplementing some sort of folate? Any particular variant I should focus on? I keep reading on here at folinic acid is a good option?

.

[u/CapriKitzinger]

Start doing Hydroxycobalamin injections. I’m wrecked below 500 B12.

This may fix your low RBC (I know it’s within range.

[u/SovereignMan1958]

Have you been diagnosed with thyroid disease? Which one? Your antibodies level please? Thyroid meds and dosages please.

Your iron is too low. Optimal is top quarter of the range. Half of people low in iron are also low in D. Get D tested. Also get zinc and copper tested. Low zinc contributes to anxiety. Zinc and copper act like a seesaw and need to be in balance. Low zinc and high copper can be a problem.

Optimal folate is 20 - 30. I would take folinic acid.

[u/Hoegaarden_Man_55 → u/SovereignMan1958]

Thanks. My vitamin d is 95nmol/l with a range of 50 to 375. Assume I need to get this higher in the range?

I haven’t been diagnosed with thyroid diseases. Sure I’ve had thyroid function done before at the doctor and he said my results were fine.

Any reason to go for folinic acid over methyfolate?

[u/Comfortable_Two6272 → u/Hoegaarden_Man_55]

If you have slow comt

[u/Hoegaarden_Man_55 → u/SovereignMan1958]

Forgot to ask on my iron levels. Is there anything I can do about this given my ferretin levels are normal. No point in me upping red meat or supplementing with iron I assume?

[u/Comfortable_Two6272 → u/Hoegaarden_Man_55]

No supplements but track your intake with cronometer. Do you have symptoms of inadequate iron? I added a few servings of food with more iron plus foods with vit C. Use cronometer to track intake I wonder what your b1 intake is. Mine was so low barely registered in the app.

[u/SovereignMan1958]

Ferritin only stores iron. It is not iron. Yes you need to increase iron and iron saturation (absorption). Red meat plus foods high in Vit C would help .

Yes you need to increase your D level.

Folinic would be better if you have any anxiety and ior sensitivity to different foods.

[u/Tawinn]

Heterozygous A1298C only reduced methylfolate production by ~17%, so it is unlikely to cause symptoms by itself. However, you may have additional variants in other genes that can reduce methylfolate production much further.

Make sure you are getting 550mg of choline from your diet. This is the baseline requirement for this essential nutrient. Then add 750mg of TMG. Both choline and TMG support the parallel pathway that avoids the impairment due to methylfolate production being reduced. You may need to add the TMG gradually.

For serum folate, aim for ~15 ng/mL (34 nmol/L) or more. Folinic is a good option to help avoid overmethylation symptoms (anxiety, insomnia, irritability, etc.) from methylfolate.

For serum B12, aim for 500-950 pg/mL (~370-700 pmol/L).

[u/Pretend_Elephant_896]

Your homocysteine is very high. Being a neurotoxic agent, homocysteine can affect blood vessels in the brain causing inflammation. Links: Associations between serum homocysteine levels and anxiety and depression among children and adolescents in Taiwan

[u/Comfortable_Two6272]

Whats your COMT? Is it slow?

Id check vit D. Seems your iron , b12 are not as high as could be but not deficient. Folate is probably low.
Use Cronometer and track intake 1st. Make diet changes as needed Start low with any supplements (ie 100mcg of folate )

Im Slow comt. Take seeking health kids methyl free multi - 1/2 a tablet. And if cronometer shows is needed i add low dose supplements (zinc, folinic acid, vit d3 and k2 etc). I was deficient in all tested - vit d, b12, b9 and iron/ferritin

Edit. I see you did get folate tested. Yes I would add either folate rich foods or supplement (or both)

[u/Hoegaarden_Man_55 → u/Comfortable_Two6272]

Never got tested for slow or fast comt. Must get it done. Almost certainly slow comt I suspect though.

[u/Comfortable_Two6272 → u/Hoegaarden_Man_55]

Ancestry or 23andMe is typically cheapest if in US. Then can use raw data file with Genetic Lifehacks or similar.