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MTHFR and Supportive Nutrients for Cardiovascular Health

Methyl-Life® Product Help Guide

What does homocysteine have to do with heart health?

Dealing with homocysteine levels is important if you have an MTHFR genetic mutation or a family history of cardiovascular issues. If too high, homocysteine levels can cause serious damage to the heart and blood vessels (including increased risk of vascular occlusion [blockage of a blood vessel] and all-cause mortality). 


High homocysteine is also linked to low mood, migraines, cognitive decline, dementia and poor memory function.


Women with high homocysteine levels may have trouble getting pregnant and are at risk of recurrent miscarriage.

Note about B12

Consider taking bioidentical B12 forms in conjunction with L-Methylfolate because they work synergistically together in the body on the methylation pathway and can amplify its benefits. Stay AWAY from cyanocobalamin in supplements and fortified foods! Methyl-Life® carries affordable, vegan versions of active B12 in a tasty sublingual tablet (some products even include L-Methylfolate).


Bioidentical Active B12 Forms:

  • Hydroxocobalamin - harder to find, expensive, typically well-tolerated and used for pernicious anemia among other things
  • Methylcobalamin - fairly available and found in some supplements. Note: it's not always well tolerated
  • Adenosylcobalamin - harder to find, expensive, the most well-tolerated and often used in muscle recovery


B12 does NOT absorb well via the gut, so be sure to get a product that allows you to dissolve the B12 under your tongue. Sublingual transport is the best way to get B12 absorption (research has proven it's even better than B12 injections for increasing B12 sufficiency). If B12 blood serum levels test "high", consider Methyl-Life®'s Non-Methylated Multivitamin.


Learn more about the best bioidentical B12 forms to take.

Get one of our Free step-by-step Methylation Protocols

Consider getting your homocysteine levels checked by a healthcare practitioner. Lowering homocysteine levels may take additional nutrients and different dosing than what's suggested.


Start LOW with your initial dose and increase SLOWLY until you get to your targeted amount or reach tolerance.

Methylation nutrient combinations to consider

The daily target amount for Cardiovascular Support is approximately 3 mg of L-Methylfolate. This is based on the Metanx prescription product usually prescribed for Diabetes (specifically helping to reduce homocysteine levels and improve peripheral neuropathy). Metanx contains 3 mg of L-Methylfolate and has clinical studies demonstrating improvement for neuropathy.


You may only be able to take half or less of the suggested amount, but that may be just right for you personally. Some people respond quickly (within weeks) and others may take a full 4 months before they respond favorably to the therapeutic methylfolate dosing.

SENSITIVE PEOPLE who should go VERY SLOW when methylating

  • Children
  • Those sensitive to medications and supplements
  • Those significantly impacted by trauma
  • Those with chronic or complex illnesses (i.e. chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, MS, Lyme, chemical sensitivities, etc.)

Quick Personal Note from Methyl-Life® Founder, Jamie Hope

"I had my serotonin level tested before starting a methylfolate and active B12 regimen. My result was 85, significantly low (normal range for the test was 125-185).


3 months later after taking 5 mg of L-Methylfolate and 5 mg of active B12 each day, I had my level tested again and it came back at 136 (significantly improved and within normal range).


Not only did I feel so much better (my mood was lifted), but my IBS symptoms began to melt away (much to my surprise). As I continued taking the nutrients over the next 6-9 months many things just got so much better. It really was quite an amazing transformation for me, a slow but steady healing. So don't underestimate the power of bioidentical methylfolate and B12 nutrients for not only mood improvement, but also repairing the gut.


Find your own sweet spot, where the amount of methylfolate you take makes you feel better.


It is worth noting that some people may never feel a big change like I did right away. Dr. Neil Rawlins says it may take some as many as 4 months (at a therapeutic dose - for some that is as much as 15 mg) to notice that they are actually feeling better.


Some people may just take methylfolate because it is recommended for them and reduces their homocysteine as well as disease risks (i.e. heart attack, miscarriage etc.) and helps clear toxins/metals/BPAs out of their system via glutathione boosting. These folks may not notice as much of a difference in how they 'feel', everyone's experience is unique."

Additional Resources

High homocysteine can be like high blood sugar: you may not really 'feel it’, but it’s still causing damage
It's important to deal with high homocysteine levels (they severely impact underlying health issues and promote disease)
5-9 mcmol/L is the optimal range for homocysteine. It's even responsible for gout attacks

Methylation Protocol designed to Increase Methylation for Cardiovascular Health

Methylation Protocol designed to Increase Methylation for Sensitive Individuals

Methylfolate Ranges for Specific Health Conditions

If you’re targeting a particular condition, try a dosage level specific to that need. NOTE: L-Methylfolate crosses the blood-brain barrier, unlike folic acid.

Pregnancy/Fertility - target dosage is ~1-4 mg methylfolate per day

Diabetes/Cardiovascular Health - target dosage is ~3 mg methylfolate per day

Lowering Homocysteine levels - target dosage is ~3-7.5 mg methylfolate per day (NAC/NACET, TMG and Glutathione can also help with this)

ADD/ADHD/Focus and Attention - target dosage is ~1-5 mg methylfolate per day

Cognitive Health/Dementia/Alzheimer's - target dosage is ~5-6 mg methylfolate per day

Depression/Bipolar/Mental Health challenges - target dosage is ~7.5-15 mg methylfolate per day

Eye Health - target dosage is ~1 mg methylfolate per day

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