Genetics & MTHFR — How Genetic Variants Shape Your Health Patterns
Genetic variants don't determine your health — but they shape how your body processes nutrients, responds to medications, and manages key biochemical pathways. WePattern maps five clinically documented variants against symptoms, conditions, nutrients, and medications to surface the genetic layer of your health pattern.
MTHFR — The Methylation Variant
MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) is the most clinically significant variant in WePattern's genetics layer. MTHFR variants — particularly C677T and A1298C — reduce the body's ability to convert folate to its active form (5-MTHF), which is essential for methylation, neurotransmitter production, DNA repair, and homocysteine clearance.
People with MTHFR variants often need methylated B vitamins — specifically methylfolate (5-MTHF) and methylcobalamin (B12) — rather than the synthetic forms found in most supplements. Standard folic acid can actually accumulate in people with MTHFR variants, potentially masking true folate deficiency.
MTHFR is estimated to affect 40–60% of the general population in at least one variant form. It is not a rare condition — it is an underappreciated factor in fatigue, mood disorders, pregnancy health, cardiovascular risk, and medication response.
COMT — The Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Variant
COMT is responsible for breaking down catecholamines — dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine — and estrogen metabolites. Slow COMT variants (Val158Met) reduce the rate of catecholamine clearance, which can amplify stress response, increase estrogen dominance risk, and affect mood regulation. Fast COMT variants clear catecholamines rapidly, which can reduce dopamine signaling and affect motivation and pain tolerance.
VDR — The Vitamin D Receptor Variant
VDR variants affect how efficiently vitamin D binds to its receptor and triggers gene expression. People with certain VDR polymorphisms may have normal vitamin D blood levels but reduced cellular response — meaning the vitamin D they absorb is less effective at the tissue level. This can affect immune function, bone density, mood, and inflammation regulation.
MTR & MTRR — The B12 Processing Variants
MTR (methionine synthase) and MTRR (methionine synthase reductase) work with B12 and folate in the methylation cycle. Variants in these genes can reduce B12 utilization even when serum B12 appears normal — a pattern that contributes to fatigue, cognitive symptoms, and elevated homocysteine that labs may not flag as deficient.
How WePattern Uses Genetic Data
WePattern maps genetic variants as signals — not diagnoses. When a variant is relevant to your symptom or medication pattern, WePattern surfaces it as a "worth exploring" flag, not a conclusion. Genetic information shapes the nutrient and pathway recommendations surfaced in your results.
WePattern does not require genetic testing to use. The genetics layer is most useful when you already know your variants — from consumer tests (23andMe, AncestryDNA) or clinical genetic panels. If you don't know your variants, the rest of the Pattern Health Intelligence platform still surfaces actionable patterns from your symptoms, medications, and conditions.