So I got my regular TRT bloodwork done, and I asked my TRT doc to check out my LP(a) and the other stuff. Since my Homocystine was high, he decided I should get my MTHFR gene checked out as well.
Good news: the inflammation seems to have gone away, my CRP score and Homocysteine were both within range, so they have gone down considerably since last time they were checked. This is probably from me taking high dose of L-Mthyl folate and vitamin C.
Bad news: Regarding the MTHFR gene, I am a homozygous mutant with the C677T SNP (also written as T677T). From what I understand so far, this mutation severely hampers my body's ability to convert folic acid into folate. It affects my body's ability to create folate to about 30% of what a normal person can do. This, in turn, can cause other issues, such as high homocysteine (something I already have!). An important note to make is that people with the MTHFR gene are at higher risk for heart issues, like stroke and heart attack, etc. So yay, one more thing that puts me at risk.
Going down the whole MTHFR rabbit hole has lead me to learn about Methylation. If you want to learn about it just read this article, but the TLDR version is that it's the metabolic process of switching genes on and off as well as repairing DNA.
I'm a little confused now because it seems Niacin is good for lowering Lp(a), but it will hinder my ability to methylnate, which is a bad thing ("Avoid taking high doses of niacin (vitamin B3), which can hinder methylation."). So my TRT Dr has be taking 5mg of folate to lower my homocysteine and help my body methylate, while my cardiologist has me taking large doses of niacin to try to lower my LP(a). Perhaps they are just canceling each other out? What to do concerning this will probably be my biggest question for my Cardiologist.
