By Russell Browne (Dip. Adv. Nut.) · Specialist in Genetic Nutrition & Methylation Protocols

If you’ve run your raw DNA file through a genetic-health tool, you’ve probably seen a “methylation” panel — a list of genes with names like MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, COMT, and VDR. This page is a plain-English map: what methylation is, which genes tend to appear, what each one broadly does, and — importantly — how to keep the whole thing in honest perspective.

What “methylation” actually means

Methylation is a normal, constant chemical process in your body — the adding of small “methyl” tags to molecules, which helps regulate everything from how genes are switched on and off to how certain nutrients and compounds are processed. A key part of it is the folate and B12 cycle, which also keeps the amino acid homocysteine in balance.

The genes below each play a role somewhere in or around this cycle. Variants in them are common, and — this is the part the internet often skips — carrying them is normal and usually not a problem.

The genes you’ll commonly see

Here’s the map. Each links to a fuller explainer where we have one.

• MTHFR — helps process folate and manage homocysteine. Its two common variants (C677T and A1298C) get the most attention.
• MTR and MTRR — work with vitamin B12 to recycle homocysteine back into methionine.
• CBS — sits at a branch point that directs homocysteine down a different pathway.
• COMT — breaks down dopamine and related compounds (and is often over-interpreted as a “personality” gene, which it isn’t).
• VDR — the vitamin D receptor; about how your body responds to vitamin D, not how much you have.
• MAO-A, AHCY, BHMT and others — additional supporting players you may see listed.

How to keep this in perspective

Consumer “methylation panels” can make it look like every variant is a problem to be fixed. The honest reality:

• These variants are common. Carrying several is typical, not alarming.
• Any health associations are relative and population-level — they shift odds slightly across groups; they don’t determine your health or predict a diagnosis.
• A methylation panel is an educational and research tool. It’s genuinely interesting and useful as a starting point — but it is not a diagnosis, and it should not be turned into a supplement protocol on its own.

The best use of this map is to understand what your genes broadly do, then bring anything meaningful to a qualified practitioner who can weigh it against your labs, history, and symptoms. That’s exactly the gap between raw genetic data and real clinical care.

See your own methylation genes

Your existing 23andMe or AncestryDNA file already contains all of these markers — no new test required.

Upload your raw DNA file to see your methylation genes in one organized, searchable variant report, then explore each gene from there.

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About the Author

Russell Browne (Dip. Adv. Nut.)
Specialist in Genetic Nutrition & Methylation Protocols

Russell Browne is a qualified practitioner of Advanced Nutrition, Advanced Herbalism, and Homeopathy, with a specialized clinical focus on genetic nutrition, methylation pathways, and detoxification. With years of dedicated clinical experience helping patients decode complex chronic health issues, Russell is also the author of How to Treat Your MTHFR Gene Mutations the Right Way – The Genetic Advantage and several works on genetic wellness. He is committed to bridging the gap between complex genetic data and practical, root-cause clinical care.

Read Russell’s Full Professional Profile & Clinical Credentials
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