From the Guidelines
Healthy methylation is supported by a balanced diet rich in B vitamins, particularly folate (B9), B12, B6, and B2, along with adequate choline intake, as evidenced by recent studies 1. To support healthy methylation, it is essential to consume a balanced diet that includes:
- Leafy greens
- Legumes
- Eggs
- Fish
- Fortified foods Supplements can help when dietary intake is insufficient; consider a B-complex supplement containing 400-800 mcg folate, 2.4 mcg B12, 1.3-1.7 mg B6, and 1.1-1.3 mg B2, as suggested by recent research 1. Other beneficial nutrients include:
- Magnesium (310-420 mg daily)
- Zinc (8-11 mg daily)
- Betaine found in beets and spinach Lifestyle factors also play a crucial role in supporting healthy methylation:
- Manage stress through meditation or yoga
- Get 7-9 hours of quality sleep
- Exercise regularly
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Avoid smoking Certain medications like methotrexate and some antiepileptics can interfere with methylation, so it is essential to consult your healthcare provider if you're taking these, as highlighted in recent studies 1. Methylation is essential for numerous bodily functions, including:
- DNA repair
- Neurotransmitter production
- Detoxification
- Immune function Making proper support vital for overall health, as emphasized by recent research 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
L-METHYLFOLATE CALCIUM Tablets is a medical food dispensed by prescription for the clinical dietary management of the metabolic imbalances associated with depression and schizophrenia.
The key to supporting healthy methylation is L-methylfolate, as it is directly involved in this process.
- Methylation is not explicitly defined in the provided drug label, but it can be inferred that L-methylfolate plays a crucial role in it.
- The label states that L-METHYLFOLATE CALCIUM is used for the clinical dietary management of metabolic imbalances, which may be related to methylation processes in the body 2.
From the Research
Definition of Methylation
- Methylation is a universal biochemical process that covalently adds methyl groups to a variety of molecular targets, playing a critical role in epigenetic modifications and imprinting via methyl tagging on histones and DNA 3.
- It involves the addition of a methyl group to the 5-position of the cytosine base in DNA, a reaction catalysed by a DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferase 4.
Importance of Methylation
- Methylation determines the complementary regulatory characteristics of male and female genomes during reproduction 3.
- It regulates the main steps in reproductive physiology, including gametogenesis, and early and late embryo development 3.
- Methylation plays an important role in the control of gene expression in higher eukaryotes, largely achieved by the packaging of methylated DNA into chromatin structures that are inaccessible to transcription factors and other proteins 4.
Factors that Support Healthy Methylation
- Methyl nutrients, including folates (vitamin B9), riboflavin (vitamin B2), cobalamin (vitamin B12), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and choline (vitamin B4), as well as methionine and betaine, play a crucial role in supporting healthy methylation 5.
- An adequate intake of betaine and choline in the diet may improve the overall DNA methylation profile and reduce the risk of cancer 5.
- Folate, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, choline, and betaine are nutrients involved in the 1-carbon cycle that can alter the levels of DNA methylation and influence genesis and/or tumor progression 6.
- The levels of serum folate, dietary folate, and the status of DNA methylation can influence clinicopathological staging in patients with colorectal cancer 6.
Relationship between Methylation and Disease
- Both excessive (hypermethylation) and reduced DNA methylation (hypomethylation) can contribute to the disturbance of the proper course of many important processes in the human body 5.
- The deficiency of methyl nutrients in the body can lead to disturbances in SAM synthesis, which is the primary donor of methyl groups in the DNA methylation process 5.
- Methylation has been linked to various diseases, including colorectal cancer, and the relationship between methylation and disease is complex and influenced by multiple factors, including diet and genetic polymorphisms 6, 7.