Misconceptions about MTHFR and Methylation

About Jenine Stallard, CNC

Jenine Stallard has been the Head Clinical Consultant at Sabre Sciences Labs since 2001. Sabre Sciences is one of the oldest and most reputable research labs for methylation and neurotransmitter pathways worldwide. She received her certification in clinical nutrition from the Natural Healing Institute in Encinitas, California. During her time with Sabre Sciences, she has worked alongside some of the greatest minds in natural endocrinology, assisting in clinical research, educational workshops, laboratory analysis, product formulations, and product development. Her background in health is diverse, and she has studied with a variety of cutting-edge doctors in various medical disciplines. 

Key Takeaways 

In this episode, Caitlin Woolery sits down with Janine Stallard of Saber Sciences to discuss the massive misunderstanding surrounding MTHFR and methylation in the functional medicine industry. The conversation breaks down why having an MTHFR gene mutation does NOT automatically mean someone needs high-dose methylated vitamins, methylfolate, or Leucovorin.

Caitlin and Janine explain why genetic testing alone is incomplete and why specialized methylation testing is required to determine whether someone is overmethylated or undermethylated. And how methylation labs are required before one can determine the form and proper amount of B vitamins. 

The episode explores how improper use of methyl donors can contribute to anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, hyperactivity, OCD tendencies, autism spectrum symptoms, adrenal stress, and nervous system dysregulation. The discussion also covers synthetic folic acid vs methylfolate vs folinic acid, the dangers of fortified foods and prenatal vitamins, pharmaceutical and vaccine injury, toxic burden, oxidative stress, sulfuration pathways, glutathione production, neurotransmitter metabolism, and how trauma, stress, sleep, diet, hydration, and environment alter genetic expression over time.

Topics Discussed:

1. Why the industry misunderstands MTHFR and methylation
2. Why methylation testing matters more than genetics alone
3. Overmethylation vs undermethylation and how symptoms present differently
4. High-dose methylfolate, leucovorin, and excessive B vitamins
5. Autism, hyperactivity, anxiety, insomnia, OCD patterns, and nervous system dysregulation
6. Pharmaceutical injury, vaccine injury, mold illness, Lyme disease, and toxic burden
7. Synthetic folic acid vs methylfolate vs folinic acid
8. Fortified foods, prenatal vitamins, and chronic inflammatory load
9. Sulfuration, glutathione, oxidative stress, and detoxification
10. How trauma, stress, and environment alter biochemical pathways
11. Why genes are not fixed destiny
12. Precision low-dose supplementation vs generalized protocols
13. Caitlin’s personal methylation lab analysis and recovery journey