Supplements for Undermethylation
Most people aren’t keen to down pharmaceutical medications once they have pinpointed the problem of undermethylation. If you know for a fact that undermethylation is the problem, taking a targeted nutritional approach is your best bet. Methylation is carried out by specific enzymes, each one using specific nutrients. Use support supplements only when a strong nutritional foundation has been established and only when needed. Supplements can assist in providing specific cofactors required in enzymatic reactions and can protect against the stress hormones. Work with a professional to determine what quantities and combinations of nutrients you should be taking. Below are commonly prescribed supplements for undermethylation – only take if tested deficient and always as directed by a professional.
Your Gut
Repairing the gut and optimising your good/bad bacteria should be paramount, since toxins excreted by bad bacteria inhibit methylation. Probiotics are defined as live non-pathogenic micro-organisms that, when ingested in adequate numbers, exert a beneficial effect on the health of the host. I would be starting with optimising your gut bacteria before reaching out to array of supplements. Mounting evidence supports the influence of the gut microbiome in weight management. The microbiome is all of the bacteria and other organisms that inhabit the gut, plus all of the genetic material and metabolites associated with this bacteria. Research indicates that the majority of flora in the gut is related to body weight. Animal and human studies demonstrate that lean individuals have different types and more diverse flora than obese individual. The GAPS diet can be helpful for optimising gut bacteria, as is reading the nutrition and lifestyle information on our Health Basics page. A basic outline of the GAPS diet includes the following:
- The GAPS diet should consist of fresh meats (hormone-free/grass fed if possible), animal fats, fish, shellfish, organic farm-fresh eggs (if well tolerated), fermented foods, and vegetables. For patients suffering from yeast overgrowth, temporarily eliminating fruit, honey, and nuts may be beneficial.
- It is recommended to combine vegetables (raw/fermented/cooked) with meats and fish at each meal to balance pH. Meats and fish accumulate as acids in the body while vegetables have a strong alkalizing affect. Too acidic or too alkalizing states are not ideal.
- It is recommended to eat fruit (except avocado) on their own in between meals so not to interfere with the digestion of meats.
- It is more important to find organic (or local not containing pesticides) fruits and vegetables than organic fresh/frozen meats if cost is an issue for families. Animals have their own detoxification system that may neutralize some of the antibiotics/hormones used on them.
- It is recommended to have plenty of natural fats in every meal from meats, butter, ghee, coconut (if tolerated) and cold pressed olive oil. Animal fats are particularly valuable (lard, tallow, raw butter/ghee, lamb fat, duck fat).
- It is recommended to consume a cup of bone broth or meat stock with every meal. Many patients have difficult digesting fats in the beginning of the diet and may only be able to tolerate a few tablespoons while the body is healing.
- Fermented foods are a focal point in the protocol. This includes fermented vegetables, yogurt, kefir, and sour cream. Fermented beverages include kvass, kombucha, and water kefir are also allowed. Please note, some patients are unable to tolerate these products in the beginning and may need to be temporarily avoided. Listen to your body and introduce foods very gradually, observing for any negative reactions.
- Avoid all processed foods in packages and tins. These include all refined carbohydrates and foods that contain preservatives, artificial colorants and chemicals, etc. They are extremely detrimental to digestive system and the healing process.
This product contains Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifodobacterium Longum and Bifodobacterium Bifidum. FloraMend Prime Probiotic has the three characteristics of probiotic supplements needed in order to be optimally effective: (1) it’s viable at room temperature; (2) it withstands stomach acid, so it’s not degraded before it reaches the intestines; and (3) it’s formulated to be distributed throughout the intestinal tract where it can adhere and reproduce. FloraMend Prime Probiotic contains; Lactobacillus gasseri (for weight management and optimal energy utilization), Bifidobacterium Longum (for immune function in the GI tract and bowel regularity) and Bifidum (supports healthy gut immunity, helps maintain a beneficial balance of flora in the colon and PH balance). Research has also found that B. bifidum and B. longum enhance the absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous.
Dr. Mercola’s Complete Probiotics
Dr Mercola’s complete probiotics contain 70 Billion CFU†, they are acid and bile resistant and they contain 10 strains of probiotics. These 10 strains include Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus brevis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus salivarius, Streptococcus thermophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum.
Bacillus Coagulans contains a stable probiotic bacteria that survives stomach acid and retains its potency in the intestines, where it can act to promote a healthy gut flora. Bacillus coagulans (also known as Lactobacillus sporogenes) is a lactic acid-producing bacteria that is unique in probiotic supplementation.* While this beneficial bacteria is dormant in the bottle, it reverts to a growing bacteria in the intestines.
The degenerative and inflammatory diseases can often be corrected by the use of gelatin-rich foods. Gelatin helps the body regulate metabolism and builds connective tissue in hair, skin, bone, muscle and nails. Great Lakes Gelatin is a bio-active product containing 90 percent protein. For some serious info on why you should be getting more gelatin in your life, be sure to visit Dr Ray Peat’s page on gelatin.
Zinc is essential to the normal function of many organs and systems within the body including the skeletal, immune, neurological, and endocrine systems. Zinc is a necessary mineral co-factor for hundreds of enzymatic reactions related to protein and carbohydrate metabolism, RNA/DNA synthesis, and intercellular signalling. It is also known to play a critical role in the body’s defence against oxidative processes and is especially helpful for maintenance of healthy ageing. Zinc Carnosine by Seeking Health provides 16 mg of zinc (from zinc L-carnosine) per vegetarian capsule. Zinc Carnosine is designed for those desiring a natural approach to supporting the gastrointestinal lining. This product may be combined with high-quality probiotic formulations for a more comprehensive approach to gastrointestinal health.
The mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract provides protection against invasive microbes, environmental toxins and allergens, and the erosive effects of bile and stomach acid. The combination of zinc and L-carnosine may be uniquely beneficial for healthy cells in the mucosal lining, and these nutrients may work together to support the body’s natural protective and repair mechanisms in the gastrointestinal tract.
These digestive enzymes provide comprehensive blend of enzymes that aids digestion and nutrient absorption.
Having consistently poor digestion can produce numerous health problems, including nutrient malabsorption, digestive problems such as gas, bloating, and diarrhoea, and vitamin deficiencies. One common reason for having long-term poor digestion can be insufficient secretion of hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes due to factors such as ageing, illness, and the overuse of antacids.
Hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach does several positive things. It assists protein digestion by activating pepsinogen to pepsin, it renders the stomach sterile against ingested pathogens, it inhibits undesirable overgrowth in the small intestine, and it encourages the flow of bile and pancreatic enzymes. Hydrochloric acid also facilitates the absorption of a number of nutrients, including folate, vitamin B12, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, iron, and some forms of calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
Methylation – the addition of a methyl group (CH4 – one carbon attached to three hydrogens) to another molecule – is an essential and vital biochemical process within the human body that is involved in a large number of biochemical pathways involving neurotransmitters, detoxification, cardiovascular health, eye health, muscle health, bone health, and redox balance. A number of specific nutrients are necessary for methylation to occur normally. Methyl-Guard Plus contains 5MTHF (the active form of folate), pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (active B6), methylcobalamin (active B12), Betaine Anhydrous (Trimethylglycine or TMG) and riboflavin 5′-phosphate (the active form of vitamin B2) for its positive effect on homocysteine metabolism and methylation. These ingredients provide the necessary nutrients the body uses to push forward the process of methylation.
*TMG is already contained in the Thorne Research Methyl Guard Plus so therefore would not be required to take as a separate supplement if choosing either of those Thorne products. I personally use Methyl Guard Plus so do not need to also take this. Trimethylglycine (TMG) assists homocysteine to be metabolized into methionine, resulting in the production of DMG (dimethylglycine). Further metabolism of TMG produces the enzyme methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (the active form of folic acid). This nutrient is of the highest quality and purity obtainable, free of all common allergens (antigens), and does not contain preservatives, diluents, or artificial additives.
I do not advise against taking 5-HTP as there is evidence that high levels of serotonin actually cause anxiety, depression and aggression. Increasing levels of 5-HTP, and therefore serotonin, may not be the solution. We want to naturally increase our happy hormones with a healthy gut, sufficient sleep, a good diet and lots of fun in our lives.
L-Methionine supports the production of the cellular antioxidant, glutathione, and thereby assists in natural detoxification processes. In the body, L-Methionine can also be converted into SAMe (S-Adenosyl Methionine), a compound that supports healthy joints. This is often used as a methyl donor for undermethylators. L-Methionine is not found in the Thorne Research Methyl Guard Plus product so would be suggested to take as a separate supplement.
NAC enhances the production of the enzyme glutathione, one of the body’s most powerful antioxidants. Clinical trials have demonstrated the NAC has a therapeutic role to play in the management of cancer, heart disease, HIV, heavy metal toxicity, and other diseases characterised by free radical, oxidant damage. NAC helps the liver eliminate potentially dangerous environmental and biological toxins from the body. NAC, the acetyl derivative of L-cysteine, is more stable than L-cysteine, and can convert into L-cysteine after being absorbed. NAC is a natural source of sulfur for metabolism, and an antioxidant that supports glutathione synthesis. Free form amino acid, high purity, well tolerated, and in tablet form to insure potency. NAC is not found in the Methyl Guard Plus product by Thorne Research so would be suggested to take as a separate supplement.