http://www.itv.com/news/central/upda...-breakthrough/

More details:

http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/press/p...2013-new-study

Of course, in addition, if u have an mthfr mutation, you cannot process folic acid and must get it in the form of methylfolate. Quatrefolic is the most bioavailable form I'm told.

DNA testing with 23andme, free to pwps, reveals this very common mutation. If you're not processing folic acid effectively, you end up deficient in b12. I discovered I have this mutation and had almost run out of b12 when dx'd ten yrs ago with pd. Ldopa is also a drug mugger of b12.

I'm very excited to hear this interesting news. From my 23andMe testing, I've been aware of the MTHFR mutation (which I do have) and folic acid issue for a long time and still take methycobalamin B12 and methylfolate. My PD has seemed to progress more slowly than others, but I take other steps as well (exercise, etc.). Problem is, I've never found any reliable guidance about exactly how much to take. Seems there's no valid research to support how to supplement, and there may be a serious problem with "overmethylation" if you get it wrong. I've seen lots of dubious opinions, but no valid science to guide us. My doctor tested me and said my B12 & folate levels were fine, but some so-called "experts" online claim that you can't rely on those tests, but offer no specific alternatives. Anybody have any good reliable sources on these issues?

Peony,

See dr Ben lynch of mthfr.net

It's a tricky issue. I am now under the care of a functional medicine practitioner trying to sort all this out. If I resolve stuff I'll report back.

I'm aware of that website but, when I last checked, I found no specific advice on treatment nor much scientific support for claims made, just vague information, many symptoms and conditions, and an offer to consult for a fee. I have limited funds to pay out of my own pocket, and limited trust! Some of the online stuff sounds very suspicious. Sounds like there is probably something to this whole MTHFR issue, but I'm simply not convinced that he or anyone else has the answers yet. Good luck!

Peony,

I have gone through that website at length, listened to the podcasts etc. I would trust lynch, based on listening to him talk. There are some good youtubes too, tricky to find. It's a new area and he has to work outside of the standard health insurance model in order to do innovative Bioindividualised medicine. Insurance just hasn't caught up. Third party payers are focused on standard protocols based on pharma interventions. Himself and his family are all mthfr positive and he has devised a minimal nutraceutical protocol for the more common mutation.

From my enquiries, any doc who understands b12 will not allow their own serum level to drop below 1,000. And 400mcg methylfolate is the maintenance dose lynch recommends. He is not in favour of mega doses that can drive over methylation and aggression which are prescribed by standard md's. Above all, he advises taking account of interaction between the various snps. Lynch has chosen to become an educationalist and develop a range of products rather than get into academic peer reviewed publication. There isnt the funding to investigate nutraceuticals in the same manner as drugs. The info he provides on his products is more informative than usual regarding bioavailability. There is a world of difference, for eg, between liposomal vit c and what's on sale at the grocery store or drug store.

You might find it helpful to listen to the radio podcasts on www.drjessarmine.com of the centre for Bioindividualised medicine.

I would ask also at the Pernicious Anaemia Society website, there are some very savvy people there who could point you to further research. I am finding out new things almost on a daily basis about folate and B12, and coming to some conclusion on causes and effects, but it is early days yet, in looking at this stuff. People with the mutations etc are as far as I can see monitoring their own progress and adjusting doses based on their own symptomatology, and it may just be that there are no fixed and empirical answers to exactly what supplementation is needed. Theres a long way to go with the research.

MTHFR sure seems to be important to PD prevention and reversal:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23916622

Folic acid (actually we need methyl folate) seems very important for PD prevention and treatment!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12039451