MTHFR gene and anxiety

[Blondie0001]

Beginning to think possibly it is the low folate and b12 that’s giving me anxiety.
Has anyone the MTHFR gene and did medicating for it help your anxiety/depression?

No one?

🙁😕

Probably best to ask your doctor?

I have. Several times. They keep giving me antidepressants instead

@Redebs

Low B12 can cause low mood and anxiety yes, have you had a blood test?

And have you had (paid for) the gene test? A quick Google suggests that it's a complex multi-factorial area, so if your symptoms don't evaporate when you normalise B12/folate levels, then standard approaches to anxiety & depression will be the way forward.

@Pinkitydrinkity0 my folate is very low and I have been given folate to take everyday. My b12 is the low side of normal. I used to get monthly b12 injections but they stopped them

@Walkacrossthesand no I haven’t had a gene test but will certainly order one if it will help.

Why did you get monthly B12 injections? Were they from the GP? Did you have a Pernicious anaemia diagnosis? There are many reasons for a B12 deficiency, and unless it is nutritional (ie strict vegetarian / vegan etc) then you are likely to need injections for life. Unfortunately there seems to be a move in the medical professions generally to try and get people off injections and onto over the counter supplements - but this frequently doesn’t work and symptoms return.

Yes, anxiety can be caused by low B12 - and ‘the low side of normal’ is actually quite a deficient state anyway. You need to get injections reinstated asap. Getting MTHFR gene test may not help - certainly I have found that there is an unwillingness to acknowledge these sorts of things by doctors.

Join the Pernicious anaemia society (you don’t need to have Pernicious anaemia to join (B12 deficiency is enough); also see the Health unlocked Pernicious Anaemia / B12 deficiency forum - there are some very helpful people on there who can support / advise re: reinstating injections (or self-treating, as many have to do).

Also, taking prescribed folate supplements before treating B12 deficiency can make a B12 deficiency worse / mask a B12 deficiency (so a B12 deficiency may not be seen within blood work). Advise is always to start treating B12 before folate (this is on NHS website).

I have the gene. It doesn’t cause anxiety by itself but does end to be more commonly found with other conditions that do cause it. My consultant is an expert and said it tended to be more commonly found with Hashimotos / Thalessemia trait both of which can cause anemia and anemia related anxiety.

@Blondie0001 I wouldn't think knowing your gene status would help at all, so please don't spend your hard earned cash on that!

I will increase my folic that they prescribed. Unable to get b12 again. I will take my own supplements to try for a boost. I also think I have health anxiety too and it is causing me to overthink it all.

@JustAMinutePleass hi is this a private consultant that does the testing for the MTHFR gene ? Or is it through a NHS consultant ? Does any one on this thread know where I can get a MTHFR gene test in the uk or can I go through nhs or how pls ?