Nutritional Applications for Hemolytic Anemia and MTHFR Gene Defects
Though iron deficiency anemia is the most classic variation, there are several other types of anemia or factors to be aware of- including genetic predispositions and hemolytic anemia. A very common gene defect that can play a role in anemia is on the MTHFR gene. According to Medical News Today, this can be found in 1 in 4 individuals of Hispanic decent and 1 in 8 to 1 in 10 of North American Caucasians. This genetic mutation can play a large factor in predisposition to anemia, as well as in several other health concerns and conditions, especially those in which inflammation plays a key role.
Dr. Hayden and Dr. Horsley will help to clear up some of the questions that you may have concerning anemia as they continue their series, “Understanding Anemia – Overcoming Fatigue, Bruising, and Other Symptoms”. You will learn about what anemia is, what the symptoms are, how it is diagnosed, what the best treatment options are, and what it is commonly misdiagnosed as. These videos will be released over the next couple days on our youtube account, facebook account, and as a blog post on The Hayden Institute website.
Transcript From Video on Hemolytic Anemia and MTHFR Gene Defects:
Dr. Hayden: Hey everybody, in our last video, we talked about some treatment options from a nutritional standpoint regarding two types of anemia: macrocytic and iron deficiency. Today, we’re gonna talk a little bit more about a couple of types of anemia that are present and fairly common and how these might impact your life. So, Dr. Horsely, which one would you like to talk about?
Dr. Horsley: So one other type of anemia that is present is hemolytic anemia – fun word, right? “Hemo” – meaning blood, and “lytic” or “lysis” meaning destroying or cutting. Therefore, hemolytic anemia means that your red blood cells are actually being destroyed very rapidly. So in this case, what you’ll see on blood work is that you’ll have an abnormally high level of immature red blood cells. This is because your mature red blood cells are being destroyed so quickly that your body is constantly creating new blood cells to take their place. So the big question is why? Why are your red blood cells being destroyed? This can be because of different genetic conditions, one of them being sickle-cell anemia, where you’re creating red blood cells that have an abnormal shape that leads toward the destruction of others. Otherwise it can also be from more of an autoimmune condition, so that would be where your immune system is attacking your red blood cells. So it is important to determine what is the specific cause in your case and take different measures to help your individuals body- this may be supporting your immune system, or it could be something to help support your body with its genetic predispositions.
Dr. Hayden: So thats interesting. You have talked about a couple of variations of hemolytic anemia, another one is pernicious anemia. So in pernicious anemia, individuals don’t create intrinsic factor in the gut, which means they cannot cleave, or separate certain B vitamins from the foods that they eat. From a nutritional standpoint, there is a company, called Standard Process, who makes a product called Zypan. Zypan has intrinsic factor in it. I’m sure a bunch of other companies have intrinsic factor supplements, but in a situation of someone with pernicious anemia, it’s not a replacement of the vitamin or the iron that they’re missing – it’s a specific process within the body that’s not working effectively. We might support that individual with pernicious anemia by giving them more intrinsic factor in their diet, as a pill, just to help their body to separate those B vitamins out a bit more efficiently. So in the case of pernicious anemia, it is not as much the break down of the red blood cells, but an inability to activate B vitamins to help mature the red blood cells that is the cause.
Dr. Hayden: So there’s a lot of ways we can try and address different anemias from a nutritional standpoint, but sometimes, like you mentioned, there’s autoimmune things or there are genetic imbalances that may predispose us to have more issues. One of the genetic predispositions is an MTHFR gene defect. MTHFR, stands for methyl tetrahydrofolate reductase. Basically, in this genetic imbalance in the body, you don’t create the enzyme necessary to convert B vitamins through their various stages- specifically, B9 (folate). So if someone has an MTHFR gene defect how might that affect their ability to be anemic free throughout their life?
Dr. Horsley: If you have a MTHFR defect then you’re not going to be able to use B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin) in this pathway that is important for decreasing inflammation. This is because these vitamins are crucial for decreasing the level of homocysteine, a major inflammatory marker, within your body. This rise of inflammation will further increase the symptoms of macrocytic anemia that is present due to the imbalance with the B vitamin production. To activate B vitamins, you need to methylate them, if this is not able to happen effectively because of genetics, this will place a burden on the liver. This can potentially create another cascade of symptoms related to the liver, such as detoxification issues, fatigue, and immune and hormones imbalances.
Dr. Hayden: Therefore, if someone has an MTHFR gene defect they eat a bunch of B vitamins, but their liver doesn’t convert them like they’re supposed to and then the red blood cells don’t get the right nutrients or building blocks, thus setting in the anemia. The chemical that you mentioned, homocysteine, increases the inflammation level in the body and things just spiral out of control from there all because of a genetic factor that no one had any control over – even if they ate the healthiest diet – it’s just a gene that doesn’t work. So therefore, if someone has an MTHFR gene defect issue, how do they overcome that and not remain anemic the rest of their life?
Dr. Horsley: So one of the best ways to help if you have that gene defect is by taking supplements with the methylated variations of those B vitamins. This will take pressure off of the liver, so it doesn’t have to worry about methylating these vitamins, as well as the countless other jobs that it has. So taking things like methyl cobalamin or methyl tetrahydrofolate or different supplements will help to take care of that gene defect. Taking these will help by bypassing the part where your body has to put the methylation factor on, it just gives your body that thing, so it allows your liver to take a breather on that side. So that’s one of the best ways to help in that process – by giving your body the things it needs, so it doesn’t have to make them on the back end.
Dr. Hayden: You said the word methylated, so that’s different then the pre-converted form? So rather than taking regular B12, I take converted or methylated B12 and that bypasses the MTHFR gene defect, allowing me to at least have a better chance of success with anemia?
Dr. Horsley: Exactly.
Be sure to check out our other posts related to anemia:
- What is Anemia?
- Common Anemia Symptoms
- Testing and Diagnosing Anemia
- Nutritional Applications for Macrocytic Anemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Nutritional Applications for Hemolytic Anemia and MTHFR Gene Defects
- Misdiagnosing Anemia