Last updated on 10 July 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team
MTHFR Gene Test – Understand Your Genetic Health with Expert Guidance
The MTHFR Gene Test checks for changes in a key gene that affects how your body uses folate and processes toxins. If you carry a variant in this gene, it may influence your energy, mood, fertility, and risk of health conditions. Testing helps you understand how to better support your body through diet, supplements, and lifestyle.
What Is the MTHFR Gene?
The MTHFR gene (short for Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase) provides instructions for making an enzyme that helps your body process folate, a form of vitamin B9. It also plays a role in breaking down homocysteine, a substance in your blood that can build up and affect your health if not managed properly.
This process is called methylation. Methylation is involved in many important jobs in the body, like DNA repair, energy production, detoxification, and hormone balance.
What Does the MTHFR Gene Test Check?
The MTHFR Gene Test checks whether you carry one or more common genetic changes called variants. The two most well-known variants are called C677T and A1298C. These can reduce how well your body uses folate and may lead to higher levels of homocysteine.
The test involves a blood or saliva sample. Once you get your results, your Naturopath will review them with you and guide you on how to support your health based on what’s found.
Why Test the MTHFR Gene?
Understanding your MTHFR gene status helps you make more informed decisions about your health. If your body doesn’t process folate properly, you may need to take a specific form of it (like methylfolate) and adjust your lifestyle to reduce your risk of certain health concerns.
MTHFR testing is often considered when patients:
Have ongoing health issues with no clear cause
Experience fatigue, anxiety or mood changes
Have trouble falling pregnant or have had miscarriages
Have a family history of early heart disease or stroke
Are planning for pregnancy and want to optimise their folate levels
Have a history of mental health challenges such as depression or low mood
Your practitioner may also recommend MTHFR testing if you’ve had high homocysteine levels on a previous blood test.
What Happens If You Carry an MTHFR Gene Variant?
If you carry an MTHFR variant, your body may struggle to convert folic acid into its active form. This can cause your homocysteine levels to rise, especially if your diet is low in folate, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12.
High homocysteine levels are linked with:
Cardiovascular disease
Stroke and blood clot risk
Miscarriage and fertility issues
Mood and nervous system disorders
Pregnancy complications and neural tube defects
Poor detoxification and fatigue
Your Naturopath will assess your test results and symptoms together and may recommend dietary changes, targeted supplements, and follow-up testing to monitor your progress.
What Causes High Homocysteine Levels?
The most common cause of high homocysteine levels is low folate intake or poor folate absorption. This can happen when the MTHFR gene is not functioning properly. Other causes include low B6 and B12 levels, stress, poor detoxification, or high alcohol intake.
Your Naturopath can identify whether the cause is nutritional, genetic, or both, and will recommend changes to support your methylation and reduce homocysteine over time.
What Can You Do If You Have a Gene Variant?
You can’t change your genes, but you can take steps to support how they work. If you have a variant in your MTHFR gene, your Naturopath will recommend practical changes you can make to support healthy methylation.
These may include:
Eating more leafy green vegetables and folate-rich foods
Taking activated B vitamins such as methylfolate and methylcobalamin
Avoiding synthetic folic acid found in some supplements and fortified foods
Supporting liver detox pathways through diet and lifestyle
Managing stress through relaxation, movement and sleep
Reducing exposure to toxins from alcohol, smoking, and processed food
These strategies can help you improve energy, reduce inflammation, and support your nervous system.
When Is the MTHFR Test Recommended?
Your practitioner may recommend MTHFR testing if:
You have a history of heart disease or stroke in the family
You’ve experienced repeat miscarriages or infertility
You’re planning to conceive and want to check your folate status
You’ve had long-term fatigue or mood changes
You want a clearer picture of how your body processes nutrients
Testing is simple and can be completed at home using a kit provided by our clinic or at a pathology collection centre.
How Brisbane Livewell Clinic Can Help
At Brisbane Livewell Clinic, our Naturopaths provide a complete service around MTHFR testing. We:
Arrange your test kit and pathology referral
Explain the results in simple terms
Design a Wellness Plan that supports your methylation
Recommend personalised dietary and supplement strategies
Work with you to improve your energy, fertility, digestion or mood
We help you take clear, manageable steps so that you’re not overwhelmed by complex test results. Our goal is to give you tools and guidance that make sense for your body and your life.
How to Book Your MTHFR Gene Test
To get started with MTHFR Gene Testing at Brisbane Livewell Clinic:
Book a consultation with one of our Naturopaths
Collect your sample using a saliva kit or visit a local pathology centre
Book a consultation to receive your results within 4 to 6 weeks
Review your Wellness Plan with your Naturopath and begin personalised care
We offer consultations at our Wavell Heights and Cannon Hill clinics, as well as videoconference consultations for patients across Australia.
Ready to Understand Your MTHFR Gene Status?
If you’ve been struggling with fatigue, hormone imbalances, fertility concerns or chronic symptoms with no clear cause, MTHFR Gene Testing can give you the answers you need. Our experienced Naturopaths at Brisbane Livewell Clinic will guide you through every step – from testing to interpretation and personalised support.
We make the process simple, practical and tailored to your needs. Book an appointment today at our Wavell Heights or Cannon Hill clinic, or choose a videoconference consultation from anywhere in Australia.
Take the first step towards clarity – book your consultation now.
Frequently Asked Questions – MTHFR Gene Testing
1. What is MTHFR gene testing?
MTHFR gene testing checks for changes in a gene that helps your body use certain vitamins and process toxins. It shows if you have a gene change that may affect your energy, mood, or general health.
2. Why would someone get tested for the MTHFR gene?
People often get MTHFR testing if they feel tired often, have hormone problems, or have a family history of similar issues. It can also be useful for fertility problems or if other tests haven’t explained your symptoms.
3. What does the MTHFR gene do in the body?
The MTHFR gene helps your body use folate (a type of vitamin B) and remove waste like homocysteine. This is important for energy, mood, heart health and brain function.
4. How is MTHFR gene testing done?
MTHFR testing is done with a saliva or blood sample. Your practitioner will give you a kit and instructions on how to send your sample to the lab.
5. Can I do the MTHFR test at home?
You can do the MTHFR test at home using a saliva collection kit. You then send it to the lab and get your results through your practitioner.
6. What happens after I get my test results?
After your test, your practitioner will explain what your results mean. They’ll help you plan what to eat, what supplements to take, and how to support your health based on your results.
7. What are C677T and A1298C?
C677T and A1298C are the two most common changes in the MTHFR gene. These changes may affect how well your body uses certain nutrients like folate.
8. Can I improve my health if I have an MTHFR gene change?
You can take steps to feel better if you have an MTHFR gene change. Your practitioner can help you choose the right foods and supplements to support your body.
9. Is MTHFR testing helpful for fertility problems?
MTHFR testing is sometimes used when people have trouble getting pregnant or have had more than one miscarriage. It helps your practitioner choose the right nutrients for better reproductive health.
10. Does having an MTHFR gene change mean I’ll get sick?
Having a change in your MTHFR gene doesn’t mean you’ll get sick. It just means your body might need more support in how it uses vitamins and handles stress.
11. Can my MTHFR status affect how I use supplements?
Your MTHFR status can affect how your body uses supplements like folic acid or B12. You may need different forms of these vitamins, and your practitioner will guide you.
12. What is methylation and why does it matter?
Methylation is a process your body uses to turn vitamins into a form it can use. It helps with energy, mood, detox, and hormone balance.
13. Can children or teenagers be tested for MTHFR?
Children and teenagers can be tested for MTHFR if there are signs it’s needed. Your practitioner will discuss whether testing is right based on your child’s symptoms or history.
