Thank you. So you'll definitely need a doctor to supervise this, it seems. Otherwise, how do you know that you are not harming your nervous system. And how do you know whether your body can or cannot methylate folate and B12?

If you have the blood test for B12, that is required by a doctor.

You can take both, without testing, but it would be best to know if you have a problem with B12.

The genetic errors of methylation can only be determined by the DNA testing. This error also affects the methylation of B12, so you will want to use a methylcobalamin instead of cyanocobalamin if in doubt.

Thank you very much again.

1. I have been dealing with doctors for my depression for more than 30 years. My experience here in Europe is that doctors don't do what you ask them to do, but only what they think that is necessary. Since a metafolin treatment against depression is not in their "protocol", I am afraid that it will be very hard to find a doctor even willing to do a B12 test.

2. If a person has genetic errors of methylation, wouldn't that be apparent already from other clearly visible or otherwise noticeable symptoms? I am asking this, because I am afraid that getting your DNA tested for this purpose will be incredibly complicated, especially as long as doctors don't see that as part of the "medical protocol".

The tests here for methylation DNA errors are now patient driven. Called the MTHFR DNA test.
Some places will do them without a doctor. They range in price from just over 100 American dollars to about 500 for a complete evaluation of liver enzymes.

Overtime as people age, yes, there are impacts on the nervous system and brain. Pernicious anemia can result. High homocysteine levels will cause damage to the cardiovascular system, and lead to heart attacks/stroke and peripheral artery disease.

I know of one preteen who was diagnosed early. And she had
also gluten intolerance which can occur with malabsorption of nutrients.

You can try plain folic acid... just take some B12 with it.
See what happens.

I'd encourage you to look at DHA as well. Vit D has been shown to cause depression if levels are very low. So folate is not the only player in this problem.

Vit D testing is being aggressively done in USA now. If you Google it there is a wealth of new information to be had on it as well. I don't know what is happening where you are however.

We have a Vitamin forum here with many many posts on Vit D and B12 so take a look!
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum49.html

Thank you again. I am not sure if these MTHFR DNA tests are patient driven here as well, or can you even send a hair or some tissue to the US to get tested?

Also you know, SAD responds to light therapy. I've used this myself, with good results.

I have a visor. I didn't use it as much this season, since I raised my Vit D intake this winter to 4000IUs a day.

But the past 2 seasons I really needed the light during the winter.
This is the one I used:
http://www.feelbrightlight.com/

B6 is needed also, since it is a precursor to serotonin synthesis.

Thanks, but as I said in my opening message, light therapy unfortunately does not help me. That is why I started to look for alternatives. By the way, do you happen to know if you can get a MTHFR DNA test done per post? Or do they need to see you?