What to Do About MTHFR | Chris Masterjohn Lite #33

What to Do About MTHFR | Chris Masterjohn Lite #33

Author: Chris Masterjohn, PhD December 6, 2017 Duration: 8:44

Got MTHFR? I got you: here's what you can do with nutrition to optimize for your genetics.

MTHFR mutations increase your need for choline and glycine. It's key to get methylfolate in your diet, but high-dose methylfolate supplements are not the solution. You need to boost choline as an alternative supply of methyl groups, and creatine supplementation can help you better conserve your methylfolate by reducing the need to use it. This is important because adequate methylfolate preserves glycine and prevents it from being lost. Too little protein hurts methylation, but too much worsens the loss of glycine, so you need to hit the Goldilocks amount. Finally, you need to get more glycine to make up for whatever you're losing.

In this episode, I explain how to use food and supplements to make all this work in your favor.

To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10

Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here.

Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.


Chris Masterjohn, PhD hosts Mastering Nutrition, a podcast that digs into the science of how our bodies work at a fundamental level. The focus here is on mitochondrial health-the energy powerhouses within our cells-and how optimizing them forms the cornerstone of lasting vitality. Chris brings his background as a nutrition scientist and his experience founding BioOptHealth to these conversations, which move beyond generic diet advice. Instead, the podcast explores how individual differences, informed by tools like whole genome sequencing and detailed biochemical data, can reveal personalized paths to better metabolic function. Listeners will hear deep dives into cutting-edge research, practical interpretations of complex studies, and discussions on how to apply these insights in a real-world context. This isn't about quick fixes or trending superfoods; it's about building a coherent, scientifically-grounded understanding of nutrition from the cellular level up. Each episode aims to provide the kind of nuanced, evidence-based perspective that can help you make sense of conflicting health information. Whether the topic is a specific nutrient, a metabolic pathway, or a broader principle of wellness, Chris works to translate dense science into actionable knowledge. Tune in for a thoughtful, detailed exploration of what it truly means to master your own nutritional landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 712

Mastering Nutrition
Podcast Episodes
How to Stop Waking Up to Pee | Chris Masterjohn Lite #119 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:42
Don't you just hate it when you keep waking up in the middle of the night to pee? If this is your biggest sleeping problem, listen up. In this episode I cover how sleeping regular hours is one of the most important ways…
Vitamin A for Sleep | Chris Masterjohn Lite # 118 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:22
To get good sleep, your brain needs to know when it's daytime and when it's nighttime. How does it know? Vitamin A tells it! So if you don't have enough vitamin A, your brain is going to be clueless. Tune in for how to f…
How to Make Your Own Melatonin | Chris Masterjohn Lite #117 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:53
Here's how to make your own melatonin. No, not in your basement -- in your brain. We cover the effect of protein, carbs, vitamins, blue-blocking, and sunshine. Tune in for the details! This episode is brought to you by A…
Tryptophan and Carbs for Sleep | Chris Masterjohn Lite #115 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:17
In order to sleep well, you need to get a good dose of tryptophan into your brain at any point during the day. The simplest way to do that is with natural, whole-food, high-glycemic carbohydrates like white potatoes and…
Should You Eat Protein At Night? | Chris Masterjohn Lite #114 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:50
Could eating protein at night hurt your sleep? In this episode I discuss why it *might* hurt your sleep. Eating protein at the last meal of your day is important if you are trying to build muscle, but if you are trying t…