So I have a mao b mutation but normal mao a?

[Jheldt]

Would that increase levels of serotonin, decrease levels of dopamine (both?). I still seem to have some issues with mood/depression and while there is a lot other issues aside from my snps, I can't seem to figure out if what mao b does exactly, from what I've seen it seems to degrade (and i think break down) dopamine. I know that in my 23andme test it says serotonin from the notes when I had it analyzed. I can't get a neurotransmitter test either (lack of money on my part), but I was able to get a test that tests a precursor to serotonin which showed normal to high levels of serotonin (although I could have ate something that elevated those as well).

I just want to know if I should be trying to raise my dopamine levels or serotonin levels. Since I believe depression/mood can be affected by either low serotonin or low dopamine.

 

[Methyl Health]

Yes, MAO-B SNPs will cause a faster catabolism of dopamine, and to a much lesser extent, of serotonin as well


Yes, MAO-A plays a larger role than MAO-B. in the catabolism of Serotonin (One of the MAO-A SNPs can actually speed up Serotonin catabolism). MAO-B still plays a role but a smaller one and it slows the breakdown of serotonin.

Confused yet? No? Let me keep going.

Look at this chart: (I have nothing to do with Seeking Health, just using their image)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zEgbkTUED8s/VE4Mn916ocI/AAAAAAAAG10/DW5ZAQ9ftPo/s1600/ks76CCS.jpg
\

See on the middle left where Dopamine and Serotonin are? Well any issue, dietary or genetic, upstream from there will affect Serotonin and Dopamine levels. This includes the Folate and Methionine cycles on the top right.

So without knowing your diet and full genetics no one can tell you what to do yet. But there is hope, take a look at my blog and take a look at the "My Mutations" and the "Changes" pages at the top.
http://methylmutant.blogspot.com/

I am not only homozygous for a lot of my important MAO-A and MAO-B alleles, but for a bunch of COMT alleles as so, so much more. I was hospitalized twice for depression/anxiety, last time around ten years ago. But know I am anxiety/depression free my only treatments being diet and some supplements.

If you are interested there is a group of us on Facebook as well that talk about these things in a more scientific fashion (Nutritional Genomics), and on Google+
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nutritionalgenomics/
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/100965154815447429543

 

[Jheldt]

ok thanks for the help, i think i may already be following the google group, the other 3 links aren't working as of now though

 

[Methyl Health]

Yeah, sorry about the links. I took down my blog, it was distracting me. And I was getting to many emails and questions from their and the facebook group as well.

 

[pemone]

23 and me is currently testing for MAO A. MAO B is apparently not in their data. Can anyone here recommend any vendor who might test for MAO B?