Understanding the Role of Methylation in Human Health

Understanding the Role of Methylation

Methylation is a critical process that happens trillions of times in every cell each minute.  It is one of the most essential metabolic functions of the body and is dependent upon a variety of enzymes.  Adapting to stress and the challenges of life is an aspect that methylation provides the body.  Without adequate methylation processes the individual cannot adapt effectively and will suffer the deleterious effects of accelerated aging (1).

Methylation is a controlled transfer of a methyl group (one carbon and three hydrogen atoms) onto proteins, amino acids, enzymes and DNA in every cell and tissue of the body to regulate healing, cell energy, genetic expression of DNA, liver detoxification, immunity and neurology.

Inadequate Methylation Symptoms:

Cardiovascular Disease (2)                Diabetes (3)

Multiple Sclerosis (4)                        Psychiatric Disorders (5)

Chronic Inflammation (6)                 NeuroTransmitter Imbalances (7)

Abnormal Immune Function (8)       Dementia (9)

Autism (10)                                                Fertility & Miscarriages (11)

Cancer (12)                                       Chronic Fatigue (13)

Alzheimers (14)                                Down’s Syndrome (15)

Pregnancy Problems (16)

Why is Methylation Important for Health?

Methylation is involved in almost every bodily biochemical reaction, and occurs billions of times every second in our cells. That’s why figuring out where there are challenges in the cycle and how to help it perform better will significantly improve our health.

There are many key functions of methylation, for example methylation is intimately involved in all of the following processes:

Turn on and off genes (gene regulation) – this is important in cancer for example (17)
Process chemicals and toxins (bio transformation) helping to reduce our toxic load (18)
Builds neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine) (19)
Processes and metabolizes hormones (estrogen) (20)
Build immune cells (T cells and NK cells) (21)
Synthesis of DNA and RNA (thymine is formed from uracil) (22)
Produce energy (CoQ10, Carnitine and ATP) (23)
Produce protective coating on our nerves (via myelination) (24)

Elevated Homocysteine Levels: 

Homocysteine is a metabolic byproduct of protein metabolism and in particular the metabolism of methionine.  Methionine is found in meats, seafood, dairy products, eggs, sesame seeds and Brazil nuts.

Homocysteine is metabolized through two pathways: remethylation and transsulfuration.  Remethylation requires folate and B12 coenzymes while transsulfuration requires pyridoxal-5-phosphate, the B6 coenzyme.

Control Homocysteine Levels

Elevated homocysteine causes excessive clotting which diminishes blood flow to major regions of the body.  The lack of blood supply to the heart may cause heart attacks and the lack of blood supply to the brain accelerates the development of dementia and may lead to strokes.

High homocysteine is also associated with blood clots in other major regions of the body.  This includes the veins in such conditions as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.  In some studies, even moderate levels of homocysteine levels showed higher rates of incidence of blood clot formation

What Influences the Methylation Process?

Methylation is regulated by key enzymes and cofactors for activation (25).  This process is dependent upon certain vitamins and minerals.  When we are deficient in the necessary substrates and cofactors it compromises the methylation processes.

There are many key nutrients that play a role in methylation.  These include zinc, magnesium, B2, B6, folate, B12, niacin and others (26).  Many people consume diets that are deficient or deplete their bodies of these key nutrients.  Other individuals have genetic polymorphisms that reduce their ability to absorb and utilize these nutrients (27).

Medications such as birth control pills, NSAID’s and antacids deplete these nutrients and consume massive quantities of methyl groups for proper detoxification.   Heavy metal exposure, chronic infections, alcohol consumption and heavy emotional stress also deplete methyl groups and put us at risk (28, 29).

Testing for Methylation Imbalances:

Methylation imbalances are often not considered by most doctors and health coaches.  Most health care practitioners and health coaches have little to no education in methylation.  Those who are well educated in this subject are the premium when it comes to getting to the underlying cause of your health problems.

Specific blood work can evaluate the plasma levels of methionine, cysteine, SAMe, SAH, Homocysteine and cystathione.  These tests also give the important “methylation index” (ratio of SAMe to SAH).  The results of this test can guide the nutritional support to improve methionine metabolism, reducing homocysteine and the consequences of inadequate methylation and transsulfuration capacity (30).

Genetic Influences and on Methylation:

Genetic variations play a very important role in the methylation process.  The presence of SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) is often a major factor in identifying the underlying cause of imbalanced methylation.  A SNP may be present in one or both of the genes.   When it is present on one of the genes it is called a heterozygous polymorphism and when it is on both of the genes it is a homozygous polymorphism.

Every part of the methylation pathway can be influenced by SNP’s.  The most popular and well-studied one is MTHFR or methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase.  This enzyme converts 5,10 methylene Tetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5 methyl THF).  5-methyl THF then passes its methyl group to hydroxyl-B12.  Hydroxy-B12 then becomes methyl B12 by methylating homocysteine.  This process converts a potentially dangerous substance (homocysteine) into a very important molecule called SAMe.

MTHFR Polymorphisms:

There are two key MTHFR polymorphisms – A1298C and C677T.  The effect these have on the methylation cycle and overall health are different between the two.  C677T SNP’s are associated with elevated homocysteine levels (31).  Elevated homocysteine is a major risk factor for heart disease and neurodegenerative states such as Alzheimer’s disease (32, 33).

A1298C SNP’s do not lead to elevated homocysteine but instead play an important role in neurotransmitter function.  The 1298C is important in the conversion of BH2 to BH4 which plays a huge role in mood regulation and addictive behavior (34).

Nutrigenomics and 21^st Century Health

The field of Nutrigenomics or the science of how nutrition interacts with our genes is revolutionizing our understanding of how to apply specific supplementation to meet an individual’s needs.  As we continue to develop our understanding of these SNP’s and the methylation cycle we will be even better at addressing the underlying cause of variant health issues.

Epigenetics is a term that is used to identify how the environment interacts with our genes.  Epigenetic research has shown that our environment can change our genetic structure far beyond what we inherited from our parents.  Our lifestyle habits, environmental conditions and toxic exposure can change our genes to the point where those changes are passed onto our offspring (35).

One supplement that I use for special cases in need of methylation is Methyl Power.  Check it out here

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