What is Methylation and Why Is It Important?

Methylation is a process that occurs in the body whereby a methyl group  (one carbon and three hydrogen atoms) binds to another compound in the body and changes its function to make it better, less toxic and more functional. The process of methylation determines whether a gene will be turned or turned off, and it occurs in every cell in the body.Methylation is involved in over 200 processes in the body. For example, methylation affects carnitine production, which is involved in mitochondrial function and energy production. It is also involved in histamine, dopamine and serotonin reactions and helps our cell membranes eliminate homocysteine. Many people with methylation issues have heart disease, cancer, anxiety and depression.Proper methylation is influenced by poor diet, folic acid (the artificial form of folate), inadequate or too much exercise, poor sleep, stress and chemical exposure.  To improve methylation, eat plenty of leafy greens and organ meats, limit the intake  of folic acid and find ways to destress.  The body cannot utilize folic acid, which is artificial and found in many supplements. This inactive form must be converted  to the active form of L-5-MTHF. Additionally, folic acid will bind to folate receptors in the cell and block natural folate from getting inside the cell. Since folate and vitamin B12 are involved in the methylation cycle, many vegetarians have methylation issues. Additionally, picky eaters and people who do not consume enough nutrients may also have issues as well.The main gene affected by methylation is MTHFR.  MTHFR produces L-5-MTHF (L-methylfolate), which is essential for methylation. Some people have SNPs that cause disruptions in the function of MTHFR. SNPs are single nucleotide polymorphisms, which are variations in the DNA sequence in a gene. When this occurs, you may more susceptible to drugs, environmental factors and diseases.To improve MTHFR function, supplement with riboflavin, B12 (the active forms are  methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin), and L-methylfolate or folinic acid. I recommend reading Dirty Genes, by Dr. Ben Lynch,  to learn more about genes and how they affect your health. You can read more about him at www. drbenlynch.com or www.seekinghealth. com.