Many of you may have heard discussion in the media recently about the MTHFR gene and its association with folinic acid and weight loss.

The MTHFR gene is an important regulatory enzyme involved in the metabolism of hormones. One aspect of a defect in this gene (and 50 per cent of Australians are estimated to carry this gene polymorphism) is central adiposity, or being overweight. It is associated with higher BMI, higher waist to hip ratio, higher androgens and lower SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin).

Supplementation with folinic acid has produced remarkable results in overcoming the effects of this gene defect. This is because folinic acid is a far more metabolically active form of folic acid, which is capable of boosting levels in circumstances where folic acid has little or no effect (i.e. in the MTHFR gene defect).

The particular form of folinic acid highlighted on the Today Tonight story in the media being used by a number of Australian GPs, is in fact the form of folinic acid I have been prescribing in the clinic in the form of a B complex for a long while!

If you suspect you may carry the MTHFR gene polymorphism there are blood tests available to check, or else just change your current vitamin B complex over to one with folinic acid rather than folic acid and watch for changes in weight.

Other uses of folinic acid include the treatment of depression, autism, developmental delay and seizures, as well as cervical dysplasia, protection against abnormal cell changes in ulcerative colitis, and reducing the occurrence of neural tube defects.