What medical specialist would I see to test and get to the bottom of this? I don't know where to start.
Does anyone have ideas on how to increase BH4? Apparently BH4 has something to do with nitric oxide (in a bad way) which can cause cardiovascular problems.
From wikipedia:
Since NO production is important in regulation of blood pressure and blood flow, thereby playing a significant role in cardiovascular diseases, tetrahydrobiopterin is a potential therapeutic target. In the endothelial cell lining of blood vessels, endothelial NOS is dependent on tetrahydrobiopterin availability.[8] Increasing tetrahydrobiopterin in endothelial cells by augmenting the levels of the biosynthetic enzyme GTPCH can maintain endothelial NOS function in experimental models of disease states such as diabetes,[9] atherosclerosis, and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.
I unfortunately have a rare genoset called GS224 http://www.snpedia.com/index.php/Gs224
Among other things it says
Here is a web page on BH4, or tetrahydrobiopterin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TetrahydrobiopterinYou have two copies of a GCH1 variant associated with lower levels of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and total biopterins. BH4 is used in the production of several neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine. While many people carry this with no obvious ill effects, it does seem noteworthy.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699614/ reports median plasma BH4 levels in patients with this genotype were reduced by approximately 80%. Several potentially serious health issues could result from an 80% reduction in BH4 levels.
There may not be enough BH4 to convert phenylalanine to tyrosine. Therefore, phenylalanine can build up in body tissue and cause health issues (like high blood pressure).
But, now there may not be enough tyrosine, which is needed to create dopamine. And so then there may not be enough dopamine, which can possibly lead to symptoms SIMILAR to conditions like Fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s (but not actually Parkinson’s).
Nice to finally discover my genetics since I have a history of depression and fibromyalgia. I have started taking methyl B12 and methylfolate (the methylfolate alone can help with depression, I've discovered) but SAMe can supposedly help increase BH4 as well.
http://www.cnsspectrums.com/aspx/articl ... cleid=1267 The article is from a Dr. Stahl, PhD and MD Dr. Stahl is adjunct professor of psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California-San Diego in La Jolla.
Both MTHF and SAMe may therefore impact the regulation of various critical components of monoamine neurotransmitter activity not only by indirect modulation of neurotransmitter synthesis by promoting the synthesis of BH4 enzymatic cofactor, but also by modulating catabolic enzymes, monoamine transporters, and neurotransmitter receptors via methylation and its downstream effects (Figure 5).60-65