Genetics for a healthy pregnacy
matergen™ helps women prepare for an optimal pregnacy by preventing:
- Baby severe neural tube defects
- Early of pregnacy termination
- Premature birth
- Gestacional Diabetes
- Intrauterine growth restriction
matergen™ analyzes genetic factors that predispose women to gestational diabetes and to alterations in the metabolism of folic acid and vitamin B12
The future baby and folic acid
The first days of the embryo are key: the cells of the future baby are programmed and formed. In these early days folic acid is critical, as it provides carbon units necessary for DNA and histone methylation and contributes to the synthesis of amino acids, neurotransmitters, purines and nucleic acids.
Folic acid is necessary for the development of the neural tube, from which the brain and spinal cord develop.
Defects and serious complications
A large number of publications show that alterations in the metabolism of folic acid and vitamin B12 cause elevated levels of homocysteine that are associated with:
- Neural tube defects: spina bifida and anencephaly (underdevelopment of the baby’s brain).
- Congenital malformations of the tongue and palate (cleft lip).
- Heart defects.
- Abortion.
- Low newborn weight.
- Premature birth.
- Premature placental abruption with important consequences for the well-being of the fetus.
Uterine bleeding during the third month of pregnancy
Between 40-60% of women lack the capacity to adequately metabolize the supplemented folic acid and expose the fetus to an increased risk of malformations.
These women would benefit from taking 5-MTHF, not folic acid, prior to conception and during pregnancy.
Report of results
matergen™ detects the need for 5-MTHF vs. folic acid, vitamin B12 and provides accurate recommendations, based on genotype, for a healthy pregnancy.
matergen™ analyzes the MTHFR gene, which encodes the methylentetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme. This enzyme metabolizes ingested (inactive) folic acid to its active form 5-Methylenetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), which is needed in many cellular functions..
matergen™ detects genetic polymorphisms in MTHFR that lead to a poor ability to metabolize folic acid, an insufficient amount of the active form of folate and increased homocysteine in the blood, which is associated with a higher risk of neural tube defects.
Women who carry these genetic polymorphisms must take the active, already metabolized form: 5-MTHF.
matergen™ also detects polymorphisms in SLC19A11, MTR and CUBN, involved in a deficient transport and metabolism of folic acid and vitamin B12.
