Assessment of Methylation Status Part 2

As mentioned in our previous article, doctors can use various clinical assessments to evaluate the methylation status of their patients. While no assessment method or technique can accurately demonstrate methylation, current assessments provide an understanding of methylation-related genetic polymorphisms, nutrient status, methylation-related neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter metabolites, amino acids, hormones and metabolites, oxidative stress, and detoxification load. Each of these processes and substances can ultimately help doctors and patients understand their methylation status and what this means for their overall health and wellness.

Understanding Methylation Status

Several assessment methods and techniques, such as measures utilized to determine DNA methylation status, are typically restricted to research studies and are not yet available to doctors. Until methylation status assessments become more widely available, further healthcare is still required to understand data, especially since conflicting outcome measures have been demonstrated in research studies based on various types of methodologies. Although methods and techniques, including research studies, have quickly started to evolve, patterns of DNA methylation status in humans across cells, tissues, age, populations, environmental factors such as nutrition and lifestyle modifications, and disease, have only just started to become more characterized by researchers and doctors.

It is fundamental that we focus on various of these indicators and that we become mindful of the limitations of our interpretations and their misunderstood factors. Plasma homocysteine, for example, can decrease as methylation activity increases, but, it can also decrease when oxidative stress levels increase, regardless of methylation activity improvements. However, as we’ve previously mentioned, only several SNPs have known, quantifiable changes in enzymatic function and their overall outcome measures on methylation remain unknown. Doctors must rely on various clinical assessments to evaluate the methylation status of their patients. In the following articles, we will continue to discuss methylation status assessment options available to many healthcare professionals.

Understanding Nutrient Status

Folate and vitamin B12 are some of the most well-known nutrients which play a primary role in methylation activity, but, there are a variety of other nutrients associated with methylation enzymes and pathways, either as substrates or cofactors, as demonstrated in Figure 4 above. There are various methods or techniques available for the assessment of nutrient status, as demonstrated in Table 2 below, including laboratory analytes and physical exam findings. Dietary intake assessment, through the evaluation of diet diaries, also provides nutrient intake date which can be a useful tool for evaluating nutrient inputs and as a basis for adjustment of nutrient intake. Many doctors routinely utilize nutrient intake evaluations together with laboratory and physical functional status assessments.

Research studies have demonstrated that DNA methylation can be affected by nutrient status. Increasing evidence has also found that methylation may change in response to both nutritional and environmental influences. Alterations in DNA methylation caused by nutrient status can lead to problems in gene expression, increasing the potential risk of disease. Nutrient status is fundamental when investigating epigenetic mechanisms. Understanding how important DNA methylation assessments based on nutrient status are can help patients regulate their 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 water
• 3 or more ice cubes
Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until completely smooth and enjoy!

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)
Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. Best served immediately!

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
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately!

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
Juice all ingredients in a high-quality juicer. Best served immediately!

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
Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until completely smooth. Best served immediately!

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 may recommend higher doses of methyl donors in several patients, however, further research studies are needed to determine the proper amount of methylation supplementation. 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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