Methylation
What is methylation and what role does it play in the body?
Methylation is a very important process that takes place in the human body; it is a biochemical pathway that manages and contributes to crucial bodily functions. Methyl groups are involved in many different chemical reactions in the body and brain; they stick onto amino acids to form important neurotransmitters. Methylation occurs in all of the cells in your system, the process distributes methyl groups (CH3) to many chemical processes in the body.
Methylation is responsible for and involved in the following:
Methylation is responsible for and involved in the following:
- Energy production
- Neurotransmitter synthesis, production and function
- Body detoxification - toxic and heavy metals, chemicals, general toxins
- DNA repair and synthesis
- Control of the flight or fight response
- The production of glutathione (the body's main and most important antioxidant)
- Inflammatory responses
- The repair of cells caused by free radicals
- Immune system responses
- Histamine metabolism
- Homocysteine metabolism
- Production and metabolism of hormones
- Converting B vitamins into their methyl forms
What are the causes of methylation impairment?
Methylation requires certain nutrients and biochemical processes for the methylation cycle to function accordingly. If these nutrients are deficient and the biochemical pathways are disturbed this leaves the methylation cycle impaired resulting in either undermethylation or overmethylation, undermethylation is more common. Being under or over methylated can also be related to genetics, MTHFR gene mutations can cause methylation issues due to improper metabolism of certain B vitamins which are not properly converted into their methyl forms. Below is a list of things which disrupt methylation:
- Amino acid deficiencies
- B vitamin deficiencies
- B vitamins not being converted properly into their methyl forms
- Folate deficiency and lack of folate in the diet
- Genetics
- MTHFR gene mutations
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Poor diet and nutrition
- Stress
- Supplement misuse - taking too many or the wrong type of methylation assisting supplements
What are the mental and physical health conditions which may be associated with methylation impairment?
Methylation is involved in many processes in the body and has a lot of jobs to fulfil. If there is under or over methylation then it can disrupt the jobs methylation is supposed to do and involved in. Below is a list of mental and physical health conditions which under or over methylation may be linked with:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Alzheimer's disease
- Anorexia nervosa
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder/other personality disorders
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Copper toxicity
- Depression
- Dementia
- Fibromyalgia
- Hyperhomocysteinemia
- Homocystinuria
- Hypohomocysteinemia
- Histadelia
- Histapenia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Parkinson's disease
- Restless legs syndrome
- Schizophrenia/psychosis
- Sleep disorders
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Tinnitus
- Toxic metal toxicity
Methylation status testing
Analysis of methylation status can be done in two ways - number one, analysing the nutrients and substances involved in the methylation process, number two, analysing mutations in genetics which are involved in the methylation process. Combining both is a good option. For more info on methylation status testing please click here for the available tests page.
Methylation impairment treatment
Treatment for methylation impairment will depend on if there is under or over methylation present. The supplement regime will be different to undermethylation then it is for overmethylation and vice versa. Changes in the diet will also be needed for both under or over methylation and lifestyle changes. If you test positive for either undermethylation or overmethylation then you will receive the necessary treatment information in the results email. If you have any questions about your results, then mindovermetal will answer them for you.
