What the heck is
Methylation…everybody’s talking about it?
We can predict with increasing
precision who is more likely to develop specific diseases; who will respond
positively or react negatively to a particular drug or supplement therapy; and
finally, which nutrients are optimal for a specific individual’s treatment,
health, and well-being.
There are five different important categories to look at
when it comes to your genomic report: Methylation, Neurotransmitter,
Mitochondria, Detoxification and Inflammatory markers.
What the heck is Methylation?
Methyl groups are essential
for normal DNA cell replication! They literally turn genes “on” or “off.” “Bad”
genes can lead to birth defects, depression, cognitive decline,
diseases and cancer and can be expressed by a depletion of
your body’s methyl groups.
So… if you have depleted
methyl groups and you’re exposed to a toxin, an infection, or even a severe
emotional stress, then all of a sudden—whammo--you express the bad gene, which
can lead to a neurodegenerative disorder like Parkinson’s, or Alzheimer’s, an
autoimmune condition, or cancer.
This
process of moving methyl groups around is necessary for the functioning of
several biochemical reactions such as DNA and RNA synthesis, creatinine
generation, immune responses involved in silencing viruses etc. Methylation reactions are
involved in most body functions, to some degree. This is why
compromised methylation can cause or contribute to almost all health
conditions. When we look at your Genomix Nutrition profile we can
determine whether you have an MTHFR polymorphism,
(SNP). About 50% of the population appear to have genetic variants of
the MTHFR enzyme, causing them to have some difficulty resynthesizing
methionine from homocysteine. This can be a factor in cardiovascular
disease, mental illness, and perhaps other health conditions such as fatigue
and exhaustion. Methyl groups play a role in:
·
Detoxification. Methylation is
a primary method of removing toxins, by helping to convert fat soluble toxins
to water soluble, so it can be excreted by the kidneys.
·
Neurotransmitter synthesis and utilization. Methylation
is part of the synthesis of dopamine and serotonin.
·
Protein synthesis from our genes. Methylation
is a key step in the formation of our enzymes and proteins.
·
Protects the body’s telomeres. Telomeres
are the “tails” on its DNA and chromosomes. As we get older
these tails shorten. Methylation is
involved in the preservation of these telomeres.
·
Folate metabolism and cardiovascular health. Methylation
is involved in converting homocysteine, back into methionine. Homocysteine is a dangerous amino acid that
acts like the glue that holds plaque together in the artery.
·
Hormonal regulation. Methylation is
involved in balancing hormones in the liver, such as restoring the proper
balance of estrogens, for example.
·
Reduces inflammation by toxin removal,
hormone balancing, neurotransmitter synthesis, and others.
·
Helps protect the mitochondria.
Methyl groups help adaptive energy production.
·
Restores the level of SAMe to prevent
depression, and other mental and physical effects on the
body.
·
Required to make coenzyme Q10. This
vital substance is needed for heart health and for energy production within the
mitochondria.
So, now you know how important methylation is. If you
have an HTHFR SNP all of these processes can be compromised unless you have the
right nutritional support.
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