Bewusst
dead inside
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I think this is often overlooked when it comes to affective disorders. If you're anhedonic, depressed or don't respond to psychotropic medication, there's a high chance you're deficient in folate and/or carry a dysfunctional MTHFR gene variant. About one third of people with depression are folate deficient and high dose L-5-MTHF (the primary biologically active form of folate) in the form of Deplin is commonly prescribed to people diagnosed with depression as an adjunctive therapy. I can personally attest to the effectiveness of L-5-MTHF. (No, I have not been diagnosed with depression or any other kind of affective disorder, but I still experienced anhedonia relief and a markedly amplified sympathetic response to nicotine and caffeine while using quatrefolic and a gradual return to baseline upon cessation.)
L-5-MTHF supports monoamine synthesis and can increase BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin), which is an essential cofactor for enzymes involved in dopamine and serotonin synthesis (namely phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase). While the underlying mechanism is not entirely understood, existing research suggests that L-5-MTHF increases BH4 indirectly via inhibition of peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation. BH4 deficiency is also implicated in endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease due to uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and formation of reactive oxygen species.
How is this relevant for me?
If your diet mainly consists of processed and overcooked foods, you may have impaired neurotransmitter synthesis. MTHFR gene polymorphisms are also very common and if you live in the US and think that your artificially enriched morning cereal has enough folic acid to prevent a deficiency, you're most likely wrong and would benefit from eating more antioxidants and green leafy vegetables or even taking an L-5-MTHF supplement such as quatrefolic (although dietary sources should always be the preferred choice).
Tl;dr:
Folate deficiency and MTHFR gene variants can contribute to anhedonia, low energy, depression and other affective disorders and increasing L-5-MTHF intake via diet or supplementation may improve these conditions.
L-5-MTHF supports monoamine synthesis and can increase BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin), which is an essential cofactor for enzymes involved in dopamine and serotonin synthesis (namely phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase). While the underlying mechanism is not entirely understood, existing research suggests that L-5-MTHF increases BH4 indirectly via inhibition of peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation. BH4 deficiency is also implicated in endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease due to uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and formation of reactive oxygen species.
How is this relevant for me?
If your diet mainly consists of processed and overcooked foods, you may have impaired neurotransmitter synthesis. MTHFR gene polymorphisms are also very common and if you live in the US and think that your artificially enriched morning cereal has enough folic acid to prevent a deficiency, you're most likely wrong and would benefit from eating more antioxidants and green leafy vegetables or even taking an L-5-MTHF supplement such as quatrefolic (although dietary sources should always be the preferred choice).
Tl;dr:
Folate deficiency and MTHFR gene variants can contribute to anhedonia, low energy, depression and other affective disorders and increasing L-5-MTHF intake via diet or supplementation may improve these conditions.
