Primary Methylation Genes:
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MTHFR MTRR
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MTR SHMT
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BHMT MAO-A
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COMT eNOS
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CBS MAT1
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SUOX
Methylation is a biochemical process in the body that occurs billions of times every second in almost every cell of the body, therefore it influences almost all processes in the body. In summary, key functions of methylation include:
• Repairing damaged cells
• Turning genes on/off
• Detoxification
• Building neurotransmitters
• Metabolising hormones e.g. estrogen
• Building immune cells
• Producing energy
• Producing protective coating on the nerves (myelination)
Physiologically, methylation is the addition of a methyl group (a carbon atom with three hydrogen atoms attached) to proteins, enzymes, chemicals, DNA or amino acids such as homocysteine. Effective methylation also has roles in the biosynthesis and breakdown of catecholamines, such as adrenaline.
Key ingredients include:
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Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin). Cyanocobalamin, the synthetic form of B12 present in most supplements, must be converted to methylcobalamin, the active form and provided in GENEWAY™ Methylation Support. Vitamin B12 is another methyl donor and studies suggest that it supports healthy homocysteine levels already within the normal range on its own and in combination with folate.
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Folate (Vitamin B9). Vitamin B9 has important roles in detoxification, nervous system function, breast tissue health, prenatal development and the conversion of homocysteine back to methionine.
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5- methyl-tetra-hydrofolate (5-MTHF) is the active form into which the body must convert all other forms of folic acid before it can be used. In its active form, folate, serves as a donor of methyl groups. In GENEWAY™ Methylation Support, 5-MTHF is provided as Quatrefolic®. Quatrefolic®has a greater stability, solubility and bioavailability over the calcium salt forms of 5-MTHF.
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Betaine or Trimethylglycine (anhydrous betaine). Found in several tissues in humans, trimethylglycine (TMG) acts as an alternative methyl donor in homocysteine metabolism and the methylation process.
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Manganese. Manganese is an essential trace element required for optimal functioning of cellular biochemical pathways in the central nervous system. It is a co-factor for enzymes in methylation and antioxidant pathways. Manganese helps the body to utilise several other vitamins, such as choline.
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Molybdenum. Molybdenum helps to convert toxic sulfite molecules to sulfate molecules. Molybdenum will support SUOX activity, which is used in the final step of the degradation of cysteine. A deficiency of molybdenum will put a burden on the methylation process.
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Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Vitamin B6 is a coenzyme in approximately 100 enzymatic reactions and a key nutrient in methylation.
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Vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Vitamin B2 is used in many oxidative reactions. Folate and riboflavin interact to support healthy homocysteine levels by optimising the activity of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR).
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Choline. Choline modulates methylation, via betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) and acts as major source of methyl groups (methyl donor). Betaine can be readily produced in the body through the oxidation of choline. Choline and its metabolite, betaine, regulates the concentrations of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). A deficiency of choline will therefore put a burden on potentially already strained SAMe or methylation levels, in those exhibiting insufficient methylation capacity and may cause DNA damage.
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Zinc. A Zinc deficiency can lower the ability to use methyl groups from methyl donors such as SAMe, thus causing global hypo-methylation of DNA.
