What would you say if I told you that you could reduce your risk of ARMD and improve your vision by taking a highly absorbable form of folic acid called L-methylfolate?
During my 3 day program in Houston Texas with Dr. Dorothy Merritt (Dr. Dot) I learned some important facts regarding methylfolate. Dr Merritt is a very big advocate of investigating a gene defect in all of her patients that decreases the ability to metabolize folic acid. This defect is also related to elevated homocysteine levels in the body.Elevated homocysteine levels in the blood trigger endothelial dysfunction through oxidative damage. Endothelial cells are responsible for keeping blood vessels intact. They are much like the cement that keeps bricks together. When the cement and bricks begin to weaken the risk of arterial and/or venous thrombosis greatly increases. Many doctors are now measuring homocysteine levels to determine if you are at risk for cardiovascular disease.
If you’ve had an elevated homocysteine level in the past, you may want to check your blood for a polymorphorphism or gene defect that decreases your ability to metabolize folic acid. The test is called MTHFR, which stands for Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase.
It was interesting that we tested all 5 of the patients who attended the 3 day program in Houston and all of them were positive for this gene defect!!
I cam across the following article which strongly supports Dr. Dot’s observation if fact I am in the process of changing the Macular Support Vitamin Formula to include these important ingredients: methyl folate and B12.
Plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate levels in age-related macular degeneration.
Kamburoglu G, Gumus K, Kadayifcilar S, Eldem B.
Department of Ophthalmology, Hacettepe University Hospital, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels.
METHODS: Sixty patients diagnosed with AMD at our clinic between March 2004 and September 2004 were assessed in a prospective cross-sectional study. Plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate levels taken after 8 h of fasting from 30 patients with exudative AMD and 30 patients with dry AMD were compared with the results of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy participants.
RESULTS: Patients with both exudative and dry types of AMD had significantly higher plasma homocysteine levels (mean 14.19+/-3.11 micromol/l; 13.07+/-2.90 micromol/l respectively) compared with the controls (mean 10.79+/-2.56 micromol/l; (p=0.000 and p=0.008 respectively). Homocysteine levels were higher in the exudative AMD group compared with the dry AMD group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.290). Plasma vitamin B12 levels were found to be significantly lower in the exudative AMD group (289.14+/-113.44 pg/l) compared with the controls (436.17+/-204.12 pg/l) and dry AMD group (443.47+/-190.83 pg/l; (p=0.000). Plasma folate levels were comparable among groups (p=0.106).
CONCLUSION: This study suggests an association between elevated plasma homocysteine and AMD regardless of the subtype. Further controlled prospective studies are needed to investigate the possible role of homocysteine in AMD and the effect of vitamin B12 and folate supplementation in this process.
Dr Dot’s suggestion daily suggestions
Methyl folate 1000mug
B12 1000 mug
Hydroxytryptophan 50 mg
These can be obtained in the following product which needs a doctors prescription but it does not contain the hydroxytryptophan:
CerefolinNAC® Ingredients
2mg Methylcobalamin
5.6mg L-methylfolate
600m N-acetylcysteine
Look for a change soon in the Macular Support Formula which will include the above!
http://nutritionalresearch.net/products/macula
You can visit Dr. Dot’s website at http://wellnesssolutions.com/ I plan to be return to Texas for another seminar with Dr. Dot on Oct 23, 2011!
