Join me for a brief but important journey into your body’s cells. Every cell in your body possesses a complete copy of your unique DNA.

This DNA stores all the information your body requires to build and maintain cells, stay healthy and maybe even make a new multi-trillion cell baby.

The molecules that make up DNA are grouped into genes that are carried on chromosomes. The tiniest genetic imperfection can be crucial.

This journey concerns one such detail – the MTHFR gene. This gene plays a major role in how your nerves, heart, immune system and cells work. If you have fatigue, heart nerve or immune problems this could be why. Almost half of us have this mutation. The fact that this mutation is common and so important to our health makes this a very interesting topic.

The MTHFR or “methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase” gene holds the blueprint to make the MTHFR enzyme. This enzyme is the key to many important body functions. A MTHFR mutation will make a defective less effective enzyme that performs poorly or not at all.

The MTHFR mutation prevents the body from activating certain B vitamins. This creates a log jam that prevents B vitamins from doing their job and causes toxins to back up.

More specifically this enzyme allows “methylation” to proceed.

Methylation turns genes on and off, build neurotransmitters, immune cells, processes toxins, chemicals and hormones, produces energy, synthesizes RNA and DNA and produces the protective coating on nerves. This one function is important to many things the body does. A glitch in the system will lead to poor health and perhaps obvious disease involving the immune system, nervous system, cardiovascular system, hormones or energy.

Studies indicate about 40 percent of the population has this mutation. Everybody my clinic has tested so far, has tested positive.

Since this mutation is so important and common you may want to learn more. The next step is to talk with a knowledgeable doctor or do some online research.

Some helpful websites are MTHFR.net, methyl-life.com and rawlins.org. Amy Yaska M.D. and Ben Lynch N.D. are knowledgeable, helpful resources. Proceed cautiously and don’t assume there exists a simple fix. Our next journey includes which tests are best, what they mean and how you might treat certain results.

Dr. John Winters is

a naturopathic doctor and owns Winters Naturopathic Clinic in La Grande.