Panda, a clean diet is very important. No processed foods! Even deep green veggies are high in folic acid (think Kale, broccoli, asparagus). Eating foods like this thinking you're getting good folate can backfire and cause the CBS gene to express. This gene is responsible for the sulfur pathway and if blocked, eating foods such as this, as well as onions, peppers and garlic (the most popular foods) will cause high ammonia in the body which has its own set of symptoms. For me personally, my urine burns so bad after I eat these foods it's just totally not worth it. Some people will smell like ammonia when they sweat which is also a clue the pathway is blocked.
I too have suffered with mental illness for YEARS! It was not until I was diagnosed two years ago and put on supplements that my depression all but disappeared. It was hit or miss, found I can't tolerate methyl donors, and still plugging along. I still have moments now and again being down in the dumps but I know what triggered it (usually eating c rap foods) and by the end of the next day after eating well I am fine.
It's a long journey, I wish you and your daughter well.
A side note: It may be worthwhile for an Organic Acids Test aka OAT be done. Below is a cut and paste of what it will test for.
Metabolic Analysis Profile (Organic Acids)
The Metabolic Analysis Profile is a nutritional test that assesses urine metabolites in order to evaluate four critical areas of metabolism: gastrointestinal function, cellular and mitochondrial energy production, neurotransmitter processing, and amino acid/organic acid balance as influenced by vitamin/mineral cofactors. Results can be used to address chronic systemic complaints ranging from chronic fatigue and mood disorders to headache, muscular/joint pain, and digestive problems.
The Metabolic Analysis Profile is a nutritional test using an urinary assessment of 46 key organic acids grouped according to their primary roles in the following four central areas of metabolism.
Gastrointestinal Function — This profile measures eight markers that can reveal malabsorption and dysbiosis. These imbalances can be addressed to improve gut health and to help prevent or alleviate: chronic digestive problems, common causes of nutritional deficiency, yeast overgrowth, cognitive impairment, gastrointestinal distress, and degenerative conditions.
Energy Production —This profile assesses metabolites that serve as important intermediates in the citric acid (Krebs) cycle. This cycle supplies the body with its primary energy needs, converting 90% of food energy into cellular energy. This subpanel also includes:
- Carbohydrate metabolites that can signal impaired glucose metabolism
- Markers that help evaluate the breakdown of fats and production of cholesterol
- A marker measuring the production of coenzyme Q10
Imbalances of cellular energy metabolites are linked with chronic fatigue, accelerated cell breakdown, and unhealthy aging.
Neurotransmitter Metabolites - A special grouping of neurotransmitter metabolites serve as important diagnostic indicators of abnormal metabolism that can underline many key aspects of neuropsychiatric function. These markers are urinary metabolites of powerful neurotranmitters that act on the central nervous system, including: Epinephrine, Dopamine, and Serotonin. These substances can profoundly influence patterns of stress response, emotional well-being, cognition, and sleep.
Assessment of Nutrient Sufficiency — This nutritional test provides a functional assessment of nutrient sufficiency and usage that covers a broad range of vitamins, coenzymes, elements, enzyme activators, and other nutrients. An analysis of amino acid metabolites which require vitamin and mineral cofactors for their metabolism can hint at deficiencies of: vitamins B6, B12 and C, magnesium, copper, iron, and various amino acids.
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