Spotlight on GP6D Deficiency: Why Your Genetics Matter More Than Your Wellness Protocol:

Understanding Biochemical Individuality in Modern Medicine

The wellness world is experiencing an unprecedented boom in sophisticated therapeutic interventions. IV vitamin C therapy, methylene blue protocols, high-dose herbal formulations, and precision biohacking approaches are more accessible than ever. Yet alongside this therapeutic expansion, I’m witnessing a concerning trend: adverse reactions that could have been entirely prevented with proper screening.

The Hidden Variables in Your Health Equation

Every therapeutic intervention occurs within the context of your unique biochemical landscape. Your genetic variations, metabolic pathways, and enzymatic capacities aren’t just academic curiosities—they’re the fundamental variables that determine whether a treatment helps, harms, or simply fails to work.

In my practice, I encounter this reality daily. Patients arrive with stories of protocols that worked brilliantly for others but left them feeling depleted, anxious, or unwell. The common thread isn’t that these treatments are inherently problematic—it’s that they were applied without understanding individual biological context.

Consider a great example – G6PD deficiency, a genetic variation that beautifully illustrates why individual biology matters. This enzyme deficiency affects approximately 400 million people worldwide, yet remains largely unknown outside of medical circles—and worryingly absent from many wellness screening protocols.

G6PD deficiency follows fascinating geographic patterns that reflect human evolutionary history. The highest prevalence occurs in populations from regions where malaria was historically endemic:

African populations show the highest rates, with prevalence reaching 10-25% in certain regions. In sub-Saharan Africa, some communities show rates as high as 35%. African Americans carry this genetic legacy, with approximately 10-12% of males affected.

Mediterranean populations display significant variation, with rates of 2-15% across Greece, Italy, southern Spain, and parts of the Middle East. Sardinia shows particularly high rates, with some areas reaching 15%.

Asian populations demonstrate considerable regional diversity. Parts of Southeast Asia show rates of 5-15%, while certain populations in India and the Middle East reach similar levels. China shows lower overall prevalence but significant regional variation.

Why these patterns exist becomes clear when we understand the evolutionary context: G6PD deficiency provided survival advantage against malaria. Those who carried one copy of the gene (particularly females who are heterozygous) gained malaria resistance without experiencing the full effects of the deficiency.

The Modern Reality: Beyond Traditional Demographics

Here’s what makes this particularly relevant today: these traditional demographic patterns don’t capture the full picture of contemporary risk.

Mixed ancestry is the norm, not the exception. Most people today carry genetic heritage from multiple populations. Someone with one grandparent from a high-prevalence region may carry the gene despite not identifying with that ethnic background.

Adoption and unknown family history mean many people lack the genealogical information needed to assess risk based on ancestry alone.

Global migration patterns have distributed these genetic variations far beyond their traditional geographic boundaries.

The crucial point: G6PD deficiency exists in all populations, just at varying frequencies. Relying solely on demographic assumptions misses a significant number of affected individuals.

One of the most frustrating aspects of preventable adverse reactions is how easily they could be avoided. G6PD testing exemplifies this perfectly. G6PD testing requires nothing more than a basic blood draw—the same process as checking cholesterol or blood sugar levels. The test is inepensive. Testing should ideally occur when not experiencing acute illness or recent hemolytic episodes, as results can be temporarily altered.

Recognising the Signs: Common Symptoms of G6PD-Related Reactions

Understanding what to watch for can be crucial in identifying G6PD-related adverse reactions early. The challenge lies in recognising that seemingly unrelated symptoms following supplement or treatment protocols might actually be connected to genetic factors.

The Spectrum of Reactions: From Subtle to Severe

G6PD-related reactions exist on a spectrum, and the severity often correlates with both the trigger strength and individual enzyme activity levels. Many people experience mild reactions that they don’t connect to their recent treatments, leading to ongoing exposure and potentially worsening symptoms.

Early and Mild Symptoms

Fatigue and low energy: Often the first sign, appearing 24-72 hours after trigger exposure. This isn’t ordinary tiredness—patients describe it as a profound exhaustion that seems disproportionate to their activity level.

Subtle breathing changes: Mild shortness of breath during normal activities, particularly noticeable when climbing stairs or during light exercise. This occurs as oxygen-carrying capacity becomes compromised.

Urine colour changes: The earliest visible sign is often darker urine—ranging from amber to tea-coloured. Many people notice this but don’t immediately connect it to recent treatments.

Mild back or abdominal discomfort: A dull ache in the lower back or upper abdomen, sometimes mistaken for muscle strain or digestive issues.

Slight pallor: A subtle loss of colour in the face, lips, or nail beds, though this can be difficult to notice in fair-skinned individuals.

Moderate Reactions

Pronounced fatigue: Severe exhaustion that interferes with daily activities. Patients often describe feeling “wiped out” despite adequate rest.

Noticeable shortness of breath: Breathing difficulties that become apparent during normal conversation or minimal exertion.

Dark brown or cola-coloured urine: Unmistakably dark urine that signals significant red blood cell breakdown. This is often the symptom that prompts medical attention.

Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, indicating elevated bilirubin from increased red blood cell destruction.

Rapid heartbeat: The heart works harder to compensate for reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to noticeable palpitations or racing pulse.

Headache and dizziness: Related to reduced oxygen delivery to the brain, often accompanied by difficulty concentrating.

Severe Reactions Requiring Immediate Medical Attention

Severe breathing difficulties: Marked shortness of breath even at rest, indicating significant compromise of oxygen delivery.

Chest pain: Can occur as the heart struggles to meet oxygen demands with reduced red blood cell capacity.

Confusion or altered mental state: Serious sign indicating inadequate oxygen delivery to the brain.

Severe abdominal or back pain: May indicate kidney involvement or severe hemolysis.

Very dark or black urine: Indicates massive red blood cell destruction and potential kidney complications.

Collapse or fainting: Emergency situation requiring immediate medical intervention.

The Timing Pattern: When Symptoms Appear

Immediate reactions (0-6 hours): Rare with oral supplements but possible with IV administrations or high-dose exposures.

Early reactions (6-24 hours): More common, particularly with dietary triggers like fava beans or high-dose supplements.

Typical timing (24-72 hours): Most G6PD reactions fall within this window, which is why the connection to recent treatments is often missed.

Delayed reactions (3-7 days): Possible with some triggers, particularly if exposure continues or if there are cumulative effects.

Recognising Patterns: Questions to Ask Yourself

If you experience any concerning symptoms following wellness treatments, consider these questions:

Timing correlation: Did symptoms begin within 72 hours of starting a new supplement, receiving IV therapy, or consuming specific foods?

Severity progression: Are symptoms worsening rather than improving with time?

Multiple symptoms: Are you experiencing a combination of fatigue, breathing changes, and urine colour changes together?

Previous reactions: Have you had similar symptoms after other treatments that others tolerated well?

Family history: Do family members report similar reactions to medications or supplements?

What Not to Ignore

Never dismiss dark urine following any wellness treatment. This is always worthy of medical evaluation, regardless of how you feel otherwise.

Breathing difficulties combined with fatigue warrant immediate assessment, particularly following high-dose vitamin C or methylene blue protocols.

Symptoms that worsen rather than improve over 24-48 hours should prompt medical consultation.

Multiple symptoms occurring together increase the likelihood of a G6PD-related reaction and require professional evaluation.

The Recovery Pattern

With appropriate management and trigger removal, G6PD-related reactions typically resolve as the body replaces damaged red blood cells. However, recovery time varies:

Mild reactions: May resolve within days to a week Moderate reactions: Often require 1-2 weeks for full recovery Severe reactions: May need weeks to months for complete resolution

Understanding Your Results

G6PD activity is typically classified into categories:

• Normal activity: 60-150% of standard reference range
• Mild deficiency: 10-60% activity (may experience reactions only to strong triggers)
• Moderate deficiency: 1-10% activity (reactions to moderate triggers likely)
• Severe deficiency: <1% activity (reactions to even mild triggers possible)

Prevention Through Recognition

Understanding these symptom patterns serves two crucial purposes: recognising when reactions occur and identifying patterns that might suggest G6PD deficiency. If you’ve experienced any of these symptom clusters following wellness treatments, discussing G6PD testing with a healthcare provider could provide valuable insights for future therapeutic decisions.

Remember: these symptoms can occur with other conditions as well. The key is recognising when they might be treatment-related and ensuring proper evaluation to understand the underlying cause.The

Clinical Reality: When Testing Isn’t Standard Practice

Despite the simplicity and affordability of genetic testing, it remains absent from many wellness protocols. I regularly encounter situations where:

IV therapy clinics administer high-dose vitamin C without G6PD screening, despite clear medical literature documenting risks.

Functional medicine practitioners prescribe intensive detoxification protocols without assessing genetic detoxification capacity.

Wellness centres offer methylene blue therapy without discussing contraindications or genetic considerations.

Supplement recommendations are made based on general population studies rather than individual genetic factors.

The Consequences of This Gap

The results are predictable and preventable:

• Patients experiencing adverse reactions to treatments that should have helped
• Loss of confidence in beneficial therapies due to poor individual matching
• Unnecessary suffering and potential health complications
• Continued cycle of trial-and-error approaches

Advocating for Yourself

Before IV therapy: Request G6PD testing before any high-dose vitamin C protocols.

With new practitioners: Ask whether genetic factors are considered in treatment planning.

Family screening: If you test positive, family members should consider testing due to inheritance patterns.

Medical records: Ensure positive results are clearly documented in your medical records and shared with all practitioners.

The Future of Precision Wellness

We’re transitioning from an era of population-based medicine to one of genuine personalisation. Genetic testing represents the foundation of this shift, providing the biological context needed for intelligent therapeutic decision-making.

The vision is clear: treatments selected and dosed based on individual genetic capacity, environmental factors considered alongside genetic predispositions, and monitoring protocols tailored to predicted responses.

The technology exists: comprehensive genetic testing is more accessible and affordable than ever.

The knowledge base is expanding: research continuously reveals new connections between genetic variations and therapeutic responses.

The barrier isn’t technological—it’s implementation.

Working Within Your Genetic Blueprint

Understanding your genetic variations doesn’t limit your therapeutic options—it optimises them. When we know you have G6PD deficiency, we don’t abandon vitamin C therapy; we adjust dosing and choose alternative forms, but methylene blue will be contraindicated, we choose herbal medicine blends differently.

This is precision wellness: using genetic and epigenetic insights to enhance rather than restrict therapeutic possibilities.

Your genetic blueprint represents the starting point for genuinely personalised medicine. Combined with environmental factors, lifestyle considerations, and health history, it provides the foundation for protocols that work with your biology rather than against it.

Taking the Next Step

If you’ve experienced unexpected reactions to wellness protocols, struggled with supplements that help others, or simply want to optimise your therapeutic approaches,doing a thorough work up and relevant testing offers valuable insights.

Ready to move beyond one-size-fits-all wellness approaches?

If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of your health—one that goes beyond surface-level symptoms and generic protocols—I’d love to explore how we might work together.

I offer a 15m preliminary consultation where we dive into your unique health landscape. Together, we’ll uncover the biological reasons behind your health challenges and identify the most effective pathways forward.

Whether you’re dealing with unexplained reactions to supplements, struggling with protocols that work for others but not you, or simply wanting to optimise your wellness journey with precision rather than guesswork, understanding your individual biochemistry can be transformative.

Book a preliminary consultation to explore:

• The underlying factors influencing your health responses
• Personalised approaches that work with your unique biology
• How to move from trial-and-error to targeted interventions
• Your individual pathway to sustainable wellness

Your body has been trying to communicate with you—let’s decode what it’s been saying and create a health strategy that truly serves you.

Complete this form to book your preliminary consultation and begin your personalised wellness journey.