Fund MD education & testing for low-income pts.

Working to Change the Diagnosis on MISDiagnosis

I'm Anthony Martinez Beven. The mission of my 501c3 nonprofit, The Chronic Illness Foundation, is to improve patient outcomes and educate the medical community and general public on the MTHFR/methylation genetic mutations and provide free diagnostics to low-income families, particularly Hispanics who are most impacted by these genetic mutations. Misdiagnosis among Hispanics, and other racial and ethnic groups in America, is at an all-time high. It is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S., according to a 2022 Health & Human Services Dept. report.

I'm a nutritionist & NPI-registered Naturopath, Homeopath & Health Educator. I'm also sufferer of this disorder. Five of my six MTHFR/methylation genes are mutated, and I'm missing the gene that codes the liver for stage 2 of its detox process - blood cleansing for pre-carcinogens and environmental toxins. I am of Mexican-American descent, and both of my nephews have similar mutations within their genetic codes. It is believed that my grandmother, Carmen Martinez, passed away due to these mutations, which are passed from the maternal bloodline. While they were unable to diagnose her illness prior to her death, they found her lymphatic system was clogged, spots on her liver and fluid around her heart and lungs.

Hispanics are the most impacted by the MTHFR genetic mutations, according the CDC. This has resulted in Hispanics experiencing high rates of liver and kidney disease, coronary artery disease and diabetes. The MTHFR gene, which has two alleles 677CT & 1298AC, is responsible for breaking homocysteine down into another amino acid, methionine. This amino acid is the key building block for proteins inside of the body and neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine. The MTHFR gene is also responsible for converting folate to usable form inside of the body which is the key building block for new red blood cells.

Mutations with this gene and other genes within the methylation group impact cellular-level function and genes within our key genes within the detoxification, inflammation, bone density, oxidative stress, insulin sensitivity groups. This has led to higher rates of liver and kidney, diabetes and coronary artery disease among Hispanics. This is rooted in the ancestral DNA of Hispanics when the Spaniards colonized the Aztecs, Incans & Mayans. In doing so brought smallpox and salmonella, which has impacted the genetic code through to current for modern Hispanics and Latinos.