UndermethylationWhat is methylation? In simple terms it is a process in which certain chemicals called methyl groups or methyl donors are added to various constituents of proteins, DNA and other molecules. These are needed to keep them in good ‘working’ condition.
For example, if the brain chemical serotonin is not methylated it will become inactive which in turns leads to depression. This is just one of the many ‘chemicals’ in the body that need to be methylated and if they are not can lead to serious health consequences.
Another important chemical that requires the methylation process is homocysteine. Homocysteine is a by product of an important amino acid - methionine - and is what remains when methionine is used to methylate your proteins and DNA. Homocysteine needs to be methylated to convert it back to methionine. If methyl donors are not available, the conversion back to methionine is hampered, producing elevated homocysteine. Both undermethylation and overmethylation can cause distressing symptoms. If either of these conditions are present, there are nutritional therapies to help correct the imbalance.
Undermethylation is characterized by low levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, high whole blood histamine and elevated absolute basophils. However, the connection between high histamine and elevated absolute basophils (ABC) did not appear in one significant study [ Blood Basophils and Histamine Levels in Patients. James A. Jackson, MT(ASCP)CLS, Ph.D., BCLD, Hugh D. Riordan, M.D., Sharon Neathery, MT(AMT), Chad Krier, ND, DC.].
This population has a high incidence of seasonal allergies, OCD tendencies, perfectionism, high libido, sparse body hair, and several other characteristics. They usually respond well to methionine, SAMe, calcium, magnesium, omega-3 essential oils (DHA & EPA), B-6, inositol, and vitamins A, C, and E. They should avoid supplements containing folic acid. In severe cases involving psychosis, the dominant symptom is usually delusional thinking rather than hallucinations. They tend to speak very little & may sit motionless for extended periods. They may appear outwardly calm, but suffer from extreme internal anxiety.
Aggressive methylation therapy can be very successful, but usually involves a very slow response. Typically, treatment with methionine, calcium, magnesium, B-6, etc requires about 2 months before the patient before any progress is evident --- and 6-12 months are required for all of the benefits to be attained. Please note that whole blood histamine is a marker for innate methylation tendency, but is not an indicator of wellness or the degree to which undermethylation has been overcome. Undermethylated patients can become quite well without their histamine lab results changing at all.
One way to speed up the process of recovery is to use SAMe supplements in the beginning. Undermethylated patients usually report nice progress after the first week or two. SAMe is quite expensive, and can be gradually replaced by methionine after a couple of months.
Nearly all severely undermethylated persons have low serotonin levels and present with a history of depression, internal anxiety, and OCD. Many have a history of perfectionism and high accomplishment in the early years. Unfortunately this population also has a tendency for non-compliance with any treatment.
The late and great Carl Pfeiffer would occasionally resort to use of the anti-histamines Benedryl or Dilantin in high-histamine persons who were slow to respond. Avoidance of folate supplements is essential for most undermethylated persons, an exception being autism.
Some practitioners like to tinker with the SAM cycle to promote conversion of homocysteine to methionine, but this can deplete the cystathione pathway and result in deficiencies of glutathione, cysteine, etc. Some persons have
a genetic enzyme weakness which can disrupt the SAM cycle.
Undermethylated adults typically require 2,000 - 3,000 mg/day of methionine for several months to see good results. Also, augmenting nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, B-6, and zinc are essential.
TMG generally provides some benefits to undermethylated persons, but tends to make oxidative stress protections worse by diminishing the amount of homocysteine which converts via the cystathione pathway of the SAM cycle.
TMG certainly is a promising nutrient for such persons, and adding some cysteine or glutathione can overcome the cystathione pathway deficit.
Personally, I believe the use of SAMe is the quickest way to help an undermethylated, high-histamine person.[Willam Walsh, Ph.D., past senior scientist, Pfeiffer Treatment Center
www.hriptc.org]