Question

MTHFR and FUT2 genes

1. How do the 2 genes work together?

2. How they interact with nutrition to form 'personalised nutrition'.

Answer 1

1) The MTHFR gene produces methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a vital enzyme for usage of folate in the body. MTHFR breaks down folate into nutrients consumable by the body at cellular level. An individual's utilization of dietary folate is determined by variations in the MTHFR gene. The fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2) enzyme is encoded by the FUT2 gene and is primarily involved in vitamin B12 absorption and transport between cells. Vitamin B12 play a key role as enzyme co-factors or substrates in one-carbon metabolism whereby folate transfers one-carbon groups in a range of biological processes including DNA synthesis, methylation, and homocysteine metabolism. Research shows that some individuals are at a greater risk than others for vitamin B12 deficiency based on the FUT2 gene.Also an individual’s ability to process dietary folate efficiently depends on MTHFR.

2) Variations in MTHFR gene determine the way individuals can utilise dietary folate. People with variants of CT or TT in the gene have reduced MTHFR enzyme activity and have increased risk of folate deficiency when folate intake is low, compared to those with the CC variant. Similar variations in FUT2 such as GG or GA creates a risk elevation for B12 deficiency, such variants in this gene have been linked to low blood levels of vitamin B12. Thus identification of such risk variants in MTHFR gene and FUT2 helps in determining the level of interaction with a person's nutrition and determine a gene based personalized nutrition for individuals.