Health issues associated with methylation deficits have become a well-known clinical problem for many healthcare professionals and patients. Numerous research studies have demonstrated that methylation deficits can cause a wide array of associated health issues, including ADD/ADHD, addiction, allergies, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, asthma, atherosclerosis, autism, behavioral problems, bipolar disorder, cancers, chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue, cleft palate, diabetes, dementia, depression, Down syndrome, hypertension, fertility problems, fibromyalgia, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and thyroid disease.
What Causes DNA Methylation Deficits?
Many healthcare professionals and patients ask themselves, why do these methylation deficits occur? The most common cause of methylation deficits frequently involves nutrient deficiencies, such as folate/folic acid deficiencies and vitamin B12 deficiencies. As previously discussed by doctors and functional medicine practitioners, methylation deficits caused by nutrient deficiencies can occur due to inadequate food or drink intake and malabsorption. Moreover, the increased consumption of processed foods, as well as following a vegan diet, can also cause folate/folic acid deficiencies and vitamin B12 deficiencies, among other nutrient deficiencies.
Furthermore, competition for the utilization of methyl donors in a variety of bodily processes can also be a common cause of methylation deficits. By way of instance, SAMe is essential for DNA methylation and other bodily functions, however, stress, the utilization of several drugs and/or medications like L-Dopa, hormones, inflammation, detoxification, and nutrient metabolism can also cause methylation deficits. Niacin, Selenium, and Phosphatidylethanolamine are examples of nutrients which are metabolized through DNA methylation. Competition for the utilization of methyl donors can cause problems associated with methylation deficits.
Methylation inhibitors can also cause methylation deficits. When SAMe is produced, it's then metabolized into SAH, a powerful DNA methylation inhibitor of SAMe-dependent methyltransferases which includes DNMTs. Numerous research studies have also demonstrated that an individual's genotype can ultimately cause methylation deficits and other health issues. Healthcare professionals can evaluate SNPs, such as MTHFR, C677T, and A1298C, in patients to demonstrate enzyme status and activity. Finally, aging can also cause methylation deficits. The process of aging alongside the causes above can ultimately cause methylation deficits.
How to Diagnose DNA Methylation Deficits
Healthcare professionals can diagnose methylation deficits in patients through nutrition physical exams. Nutrition physical exams can help guide healthcare professionals and patients alike to determine which deficiencies may be causing DNA methylation deficits.
By way of instance, nutrient deficiencies in DHA may manifest as xeroderma, dermatitis, keratosis pilaris, sensory neuropathy, and/or poor wound healing. Nutrient deficiencies in Zinc may manifest loss of taste/smell, delayed wound healing, oral candidiasis, nail changes like leukonychia, koilonychia, Beau’s lines, and onychorrhexis. Nutrient deficiencies in Magnesium may manifest as muscle spasms including blepharospasm, tremor, cardiac arrhythmias and nail changes including onychorrhexis. Last but not least, nutrient deficiencies in Potassium may manifest muscle spasms like blepharospasm or tremors and cardiac arrhythmia.
Promoting methylation support is an essential process towards maintaining overall health and wellness. DNA methylation is involved in a variety of bodily functions. Maintaining and regulating healthy methylation can help prevent a variety of health issues, including methylation deficits caused by nutrient deficiencies, among other problems. The purpose of the following article is to discuss the causes of methylation deficits. It's fundamental to understand how nutrition, lifestyle habits, supplements, and even medicines, can improve DNA methylation as well as to promote overall health and wellness.
- Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T. Insight
Smoothies and Juices for Methylation Support
While many healthcare professionals can recommend nutritional guidelines and lifestyle modifications to improve methylation support, there are several options you can try yourself at home. As described above, methylation support supplementation should be determined by a healthcare professional. Smoothies and juices are a fast and easy way to include all the necessary nutrients you need for methylation support without any side-effects. The smoothies and juices below are part of the Methylation Diet Food Plan.
Sea Green Smoothie
Servings: 1 Cook time: 5-10 minutes
- 1/2 cup cantaloupe, cubed
- 1/2 banana
- 1 handful of kale or spinach
- 1 handful of Swiss chard
- 1/4 avocado
- 2 teaspoons spirulina powder
- 1 cup of water
- 3 or more ice cubes
Berry Bliss Smoothie
Servings: 1 Cook time: 5-10 minutes
- 1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen, preferably wild)
- 1 medium carrot, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or chia seed
- 1 tablespoons almonds
- Water (to desired consistency)
- Ice cubes (optional, may omit if using frozen blueberries)
Sweet and Spicy Juice
Servings: 1 Cook time: 5-10 minutes
- 1 cup honeydew melons
- 3 cups spinach, rinsed
- 3 cups Swiss chard, rinsed
- 1 bunch cilantro (leaves and stems), rinsed
- 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
- 2-3 knobs whole turmeric root (optional), rinsed, peeled and chopped
Ginger Greens Juice
Servings: 1 Cook time: 5-10 minutes
• 1 cup pineapple cubes
• 1 apple, sliced
• 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
• 3 cups kale, rinsed and roughly chopped or ripped
• 5 cups Swiss chard, rinsed and roughly chopped or ripped
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately!
Zesty Beet Juice
Servings: 1 Cook time: 5-10 minutes
- 1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced
- 1 apple, washed and sliced
- 1 whole beet, and leaves if you have them, washed and sliced
- 1-inch knob of ginger, rinsed, peeled and chopped
Protein Power Smoothie
Serving: 1 Cook time: 5 minutes
- 1 scoop protein powder
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1/2 banana
- 1 kiwi, peeled
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of cardamom
- Non-dairy milk or water, enough to achieve desired consistency
ProLon® Fasting Mimicking Diet
Balanced methylation support can be achieved through proper nutrition. The ProLon® fasting mimicking diet offers a 5-day meal program which has been individually packed and labeled to serve the foods you need for the FMD in precise quantities and combinations. The meal program is made up of ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare, plant-based foods, including bars, soups, snacks, supplements, a drink concentrate, and teas. The products are scientifically formulated and great tasting. Before starting the ProLon® fasting mimicking diet, 5-day meal program, please make sure to talk to a healthcare professional to find out if the FMD is right for you. The ProLon® fasting mimicking diet can help promote methylation support, among a variety of other healthy benefits.
Many doctors and functional medicine practitioners can recommend nutritional advice and/or guidelines to help improve DNA methylation. Proper nutrition and lifestyle habits can ultimately help improve DNA methylation. Nutrient deficiencies can ultimately cause DNA methylation deficits which may cause a variety of health issues, according to research studies. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal and nervous health issues as well as functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topic Discussion: Acute Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes of disability and missed days at work worldwide. Back pain attributes to the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at least once throughout their life. Your spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, among other soft tissues. Injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.
Formulas for Methylation Support
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