Inflammation: Methylation

The body is a very complex machine, with various gears and switches that need to be all functioning properly to operate optimally. Methylation is a simple biochemical process in the body.

Think of methylation, or its opposite – demethylation- as the mechanism that allows the gears to turn, and it turns biological switches on and off for a host of systems in the body.

In science, methylation means the addition of a methyl group or an atom – OR- it substitutes the atom.

One carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms – or CH3

So what does this mean?

Making too much or not enough methyl groups impairs our biochemistry (or impairs the gears). This reeks havoc on our bodies in any system of the body, our moods, and our behaviors.

Methylation is absolutely critical to our happiness, health, and well being.

Here we have norepinephrine. We donate a methyl group (CH3) and it converts that norepinephrine into epinephrine. And that epinephrine is what triggers your fight or flight response in reaction to stress. But in order for that to happen, you had to add the methyl group to norepinephrine to turn it into epinephrine.

So here you have just ONE example of how adding a methyl group to transform it into something your body needs to function properly.

You’re body requires this process in so many ways in order to keep those gears turning and allowing the body to function efficiently.

What affects Methylation:

Age, sex, smoking, medication, alcohol, diet, stress, poor sleep habits, and certain gene mutations (there are 18 different ones) all contribute to methylation issues.

In todays world, methylation issues have become quite popular due to the foods we eat, environmental toxins, emotional trauma, heredity, and stress. You’re body needs to methylation properly to regulate DNA and genes. Methylation can change the activity of a DNA segment without actually changing its sequence. Its one of several epigenetic mechanisms that cells use to control gene expression.

It affects aging process, our bodies ability to properly detox itself (especially in the liver detox pathways), hormone metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis and elimination, energy production pathways (which is in the mitochondria- the ATP), and also how your immune system functions.

If you have poor methylation you may have elevated levels of homocysteine (a non protein amino acid), increased cytokines, histamine, estrogens, etc.

How does your body provide a Methyl group (CH3) to molecules?

https://vrabosainaturalhealing.wordpress.com/2016/11/12/the-methylation-cycle-and-its-role-in-healing-diseases/

CH3 is provided to the body through a universal donor known as SAMe (s-adenosylmethionine). SAMe readily gives away its methyl group to other substances in the body, which enables the cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive, and detoxification systems to work properly.

However, the system that produces SAMe is completely reliant on one switch being turned on by a critical B vitamin, 5-MTHF (knowns as active folate or methylfolate). Most of us take Methylated Vitamin B12 (known as methylcobalamin), and usually methylated folate as well.

Simply put, if enough 5-MTHF is present, the methylation cycle will work efficiently. Just keep in mind any folic acid or other dietary supplements must be converted to the active form of 5-MTHF in order for the body to use it in its methylation cycles.

Its estimated that approximately 60% of people in the US have a genetic mutation that makes it challenging for their bodies to create enough 5-MTHF.

How does Methylation Impact Inflammation?

When methylation is turned off and isn’t creating enough SAMe, a number of important molecules can not be efficiently produced including:

As you can see, Glutathione is at the top, and glutathione is the body's master detoxifying molecule. Without glutathione, your body can't detox, without CoQ10 - it affects your cardiovascular system, melatonin is needed for sleep - and if you can't sleep it further impacts your methylation cycles.

Cysteine is needed to make Glutathione, and Taurine helps keep your gallbladder healthy and running smoothly and helping your digestive system considerably by preventing SIBO, Candida, or other bacteria from over populating your small intestines.

As you can see, it starts a snowball effect in your body, creating havoc and leading to illness.

There are 7 specific nutrients that can help the methylation cycle achieve optimal performance, even if you have the genetic mutations that slow down the methylation cycles.

1. 5 MTHF (active folate)

2. Methyl B12 (methylcobalamin)

3. Vitamin B6 Pyridoxal 5’-Phosphate

4. Vitamin B2 Riboflavin 5’-Phosphate

5. Magnesium

6. Betaine (also known as trimethylglycine)

7. Vitamin D

There are also specific actions you can take as well to help with your methylation cycles.

1. Switch to an all healthy organic diet

2. Engage in regular exercise

3. Avoid smoking

4. Avoid caffeine or excessive coffee consumption (no more than 5 cups a day).

5. Consistent sleep schedule with 2-3 hours of sleep before midnight. Methylation cycles follow your circadian rhythm.

Methylation is crucial for helping to keep inflammatory markers low. If methylation is required to detox the body, and methylation is required to convert chemicals in the body into usable form for the organs and other systems; you can easily see how the body starts having health issues because its not getting what it needs to function properly, and can not detox the toxins out of your body. Thus resulting in a buildup of harmful chemicals, hormones, enzymes, and heavy metals; and/or deficiencies in the body that will all induce inflammation.

We will be discussing methylation further in the future and it will have its own slides and videos.

Love and Light,

Happy Healing