This guide will help you understand what methylation is, why it matters, and what your test results mean. We’ll explain the specific genes tested, what the results show, and what steps you can take to improve your health.
Methylation is a process in your body that helps turn certain vitamins and nutrients into the chemicals your cells need to work properly. It also helps your body detox, make DNA, and regulate important chemicals like neurotransmitters (which affect mood) and homocysteine (which affects heart health).
Methylation is a vital process that happens in every cell of your body. It involves the transfer of methyl groups (CH₃) to other molecules, influencing many key functions that keep you healthy. Here are the core concepts you should know about methylation:
The methylation cycle involves several steps where the body transfers methyl groups to DNA, proteins, and other molecules. This process is essential for making DNA, repairing damage, and regulating gene expression.
The cycle is highly dependent on B vitamins, especially B6, B12, and folate (B9). These vitamins serve as cofactors to ensure proper methylation.
MTHFR, MTR, and MTRR are enzymes that help regulate the conversion of homocysteine into methionine, a critical amino acid.
Methionine: Methionine is an essential amino acid, meaning your body cannot make it, and it must be obtained through diet. It is involved in:
Protein synthesis: Essential for building proteins.
Methylation: Methionine is converted into SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), the body’s primary methyl donor. SAMe donates methyl groups to many reactions, supporting DNA repair, neurotransmitter production, and detoxification.
Detoxification: Methionine helps neutralize harmful substances in the liver.
Homocysteine: Homocysteine is an amino acid produced during the breakdown of methionine. Normally, your body recycles homocysteine back into methionine or converts it into cysteine, which is used to make glutathione, a powerful antioxidant. Elevated homocysteine levels can cause:
Heart disease: It can damage the lining of blood vessels, leading to plaque buildup and narrowing of arteries.
Stroke: High homocysteine increases clotting and damages blood vessels, raising stroke risk.
Neurological problems: Elevated homocysteine is linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
High homocysteine levels: These can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks, strokes, and clotting disorders.
Folate (B9) is essential for the methylation cycle because it gets converted into its active form, 5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate), by the MTHFR enzyme. This active form helps lower homocysteine and is necessary for creating SAMe.
Vitamin B12 (specifically the methylated form, methylcobalamin) works alongside folate to support homocysteine conversion and promote healthy methylation.
Methylation also plays a role in regulating neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which influence mood, stress response, and cognitive function.
The COMT enzyme is involved in breaking down neurotransmitters. Variations in the COMT gene can affect mood stability and stress management due to slower neurotransmitter breakdown.
Genetic polymorphisms (like those in MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, and COMT) can reduce the effectiveness of the methylation process. This can lead to higher homocysteine levels, increased oxidative stress, and problems with detoxification.
Some people may need extra support through diet and supplements to compensate for these genetic variants.
Now that you understand the key concepts of methylation and why it’s so important for your health, let’s take a closer look at your personal results. Each gene in your methylation test plays a specific role in helping your body process nutrients, manage stress, and maintain overall wellness. In the next section, we’ll walk through the genes that were tested in your methylation profile. You’ll learn how each gene functions, how any changes in your DNA may affect your health, and most importantly, what you can do about it. Ready to dive in? Let’s explore your results and create a plan for better health!
This test looks at specific genes involved in methylation and detoxification. Here’s what each gene does:
MTHFR helps convert folate (vitamin B9) into its active form, 5-MTHF. This active folate is essential for your body to make DNA, detoxify, and regulate homocysteine levels, which affects heart health.
If MTHFR isn’t functioning well, your body may struggle to convert folate properly. This can result in elevated homocysteine levels, which are linked to heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline. Low folate can also affect mood and energy levels.
You have one copy of the MTHFR C677T variant (heterozygous), meaning your enzyme works at about 60-70% efficiency. This reduces your body’s ability to convert folate into its active form, which may lead to higher homocysteine levels.
Higher homocysteine levels could increase your risk of heart disease or stroke.
You may experience fatigue, mood swings, or brain fog.
In women, this can affect fertility and increase the risk of pregnancy complications (e.g., neural tube defects).
Take methylated folate (5-MTHF): This form of folate bypasses the MTHFR variant, allowing your body to use it effectively.
Eat folate-rich foods: Increase your intake of leafy greens, avocados, and broccoli.
Monitor your homocysteine levels: Check with your doctor regularly to ensure levels stay healthy.
Check homocysteine levels every 6 months to monitor progress.
Adjust supplements based on your homocysteine and B12 levels with your healthcare provider.
MTR helps convert homocysteine into methionine, an amino acid essential for producing SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), which plays a role in methylation, neurotransmitter production, and DNA repair.
MTR ensures that homocysteine is converted into methionine, preventing the buildup of homocysteine in your body. Methionine is critical for mood regulation, liver function, and detoxification.
Your MTR gene shows no variants, which means your body is effectively converting homocysteine into methionine. This supports healthy methylation, mood regulation, and cardiovascular health.
With normal MTR function, there’s less concern about homocysteine buildup or methylation issues. Your overall risk for heart disease and mood disturbances related to methylation is lower.
Maintain a healthy diet: Continue eating a diet rich in B vitamins to support overall methylation.
Consider taking B12: Although your MTR is functioning well, taking B12 supplements ensures your body has the necessary nutrients to maintain methylation.
No immediate follow-up is required for this gene, but monitor homocysteine levels as part of your overall health plan.
MTRR supports the recycling of methyl-B12, which is necessary for the MTR enzyme to convert homocysteine into methionine. Without MTRR, MTR’s function can become impaired.
If MTRR doesn’t work well, your body may have trouble regenerating B12, which could reduce methylation efficiency and lead to elevated homocysteine. This can impact heart health and cognitive function.
You have one copy of the MTRR A66G variant (heterozygous), which may reduce your body’s ability to recycle B12 efficiently. This could contribute to a slight elevation in homocysteine levels.
You may have a higher risk of B12 deficiency, leading to:
Take methyl-B12 supplements: This helps support B12 recycling and ensures proper methylation.
Eat foods rich in B12: Include more animal products like fish, eggs, and meat, or consider fortified plant-based alternatives.
Monitor homocysteine and B12 levels: Regular testing can help ensure your body is maintaining healthy levels of both.
Have your homocysteine and B12 levels checked every 6 months, adjusting your supplement routine based on the results.
AHCY breaks down S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), which is a byproduct of methylation. This step is crucial for preventing SAH buildup, which can interfere with methylation.
If AHCY is impaired, SAH may build up and inhibit methylation, leading to elevated homocysteine. This can cause disruptions in DNA repair, neurotransmitter production, and detoxification.
Your AHCY gene is functioning normally, meaning your body is breaking down SAH effectively, supporting healthy methylation and preventing homocysteine buildup.
With normal AHCY function, your methylation cycle is running smoothly, reducing the risk of high homocysteine, developmental delays, or other metabolic issues.
No significant symptoms or risks are expected from this gene.
Maintain a balanced diet: Continue eating a diet rich in B vitamins to support methylation.
No specific action required: Since your AHCY gene is functioning well, there is no need for extra supplementation in this area.
No immediate follow-up is necessary, but consider monitoring homocysteine as part of your overall health strategy.
COMT breaks down neurotransmitters like dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. It also plays a role in detoxifying estrogen. This gene is key for regulating mood, stress, and hormone balance.
With slower COMT activity, you may have difficulty breaking down stress hormones like dopamine and norepinephrine. This can lead to heightened sensitivity to stress, anxiety, or mood swings. COMT also affects estrogen detoxification, which could impact hormone balance.
You have two copies of the COMT Val108/158Met variant (homozygous positive), meaning your COMT enzyme works more slowly. This makes it harder for your body to break down stress hormones and estrogen efficiently.
You may experience increased stress sensitivity, anxiety, or mood swings due to the slower breakdown of dopamine and other neurotransmitters.
Slow estrogen detoxification could increase the risk of hormonal imbalances or symptoms like PMS.
Practice stress management: Incorporate relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises to manage heightened stress sensitivity.
Limit stimulants: Avoid excessive caffeine or other stimulants, which can worsen anxiety due to slower neurotransmitter breakdown.
Support estrogen detoxification: Eat more cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale) and consider supplements like DIM (diindolylmethane) to aid estrogen metabolism.
Track your mood and stress levels, adjusting stress management techniques as needed.
Consider hormone testing if you experience symptoms of estrogen imbalance.