Lipoedema is a poorly understood condition that mainly affects women. It’s marked by the disproportionate build-up of fat in the legs, hips and sometimes the arms. This is usually accompanied by pain and easy bruising. It can go undiagnosed and be dismissed as obesity but lipoedema fat does not respond to weight loss in the same way as ordinary fat.
The presence of chronic inflammation along with resistance to diet and exercise can leave people feeling confused and deflated. Clients report trying multiple diets without success. Over time, this cycle of frustration can pave the way for disordered eating pattern. Restricting food in an attempt to control the condition and then rebounding when nothing seems to help. It’s not uncommon for people with lipoedema to lose touch with hunger and fullness cues or to mistrust their body’s signals altogether.
Individuals with lipoedema may be more likely to have a common genetic variation on the MTHFR gene. MTHFR is a gene involved in folate metabolism and methylation which is important for detoxification, hormone balance, and energy production. Variants in this gene, such as C677T or A1298C, can slow the system down and make it harder for your body to process folate efficiently. This matters for people with lipoedema, because methylation is important for hormone clearance, detoxification and inflammation.
Poor methylation can slow down how your body breaks down and clears oestrogen. Lipoedema symptoms tend to flare or first appear at times when oestrogen is fluctuating and can often go hand in hand with oestrogen dominance. The inability to clear oestrogen properly leads to higher levels of circulating oestrogen. In people with lipoedema, excess oestrogen will worsen fat deposition, promote vascular fragility and contribute to tissue inflammation. It can also suppress thyroid function, which is another common comorbidity in people with lipoedema. This metabolic sluggishness adds to the complexity of the condition.
If you have an MTHFR variant, you may have higher levels of homocysteine, which leads to a higher levels of inflammation and blood vessel damage. This can contribute to the microvascular issues that often show up in lipoedema, like bruising and tenderness. Also, if your detox pathways aren’t working well, waste products and environmental toxins can build up. This could irritate tissues and add to inflammation.
If your methylation is underperforming, your body may be running low on the nutrients that support healthy methylation. It is worth having your B12 and folate levels checked with your GP to ensure that they are optimal.
If you’re dealing with lipoedema and have symptoms like fatigue, brain fog or signs of hormone imbalance you can check for MTHFR variants. Testing is simple and can be done via a cheek swab or blood test. However, you can also work with a specialist practitioner who can assess your symptoms, family history and blood levels of B12 and folate and make an educated guess as to whether your methylation needs a little support.
Want to explore this further? Book in for an initial consultation and let’s find out what’s causing issues for you.
