CBS Keeps the Flow – Where Detox Begins and Balance Wins! Detox, Defend, and Glow!

 

CBS: The direct path to the liver

 

 

 

 

Cystathionine Beta-Synthase (CBS) is an enzyme in your body that plays a key role in how you process sulfur and get rid of excess homocysteine, a potentially harmful substance when it builds up.

🧬 In Simple Terms:

CBS is like a traffic director in your body’s methylation and detox system.
When there’s too much homocysteine (a byproduct of the methionine cycle), CBS helps convert it into something safer: cystathionine, which eventually becomes glutathione – your body’s most powerful antioxidant.

🛠 What It Does:

• Takes homocysteine and adds serine (another amino acid)

• Creates cystathionine, which goes down the transsulfuration pathway

• Ultimately leads to taurine, sulfates, and glutathione (important for detox and antioxidant protection)

⚠️ Why CBS Matters:

• If CBS is too slow, homocysteine can build up → linked to heart disease, brain fog, etc.

• If CBS is overactive, it can drain methyl groups too fast, which may lead to methylation imbalance and detox symptoms

• It’s influenced by genetics (like CBS mutations), B6 levels, and oxidative stress

🧪 Nutrients That Support CBS:

• Vitamin B6 (P5P) – needed for CBS to work

• Magnesium and zinc

• A low-sulfur diet may be helpful temporarily if CBS is overactive

Cysteine serves as a precursor to glutathione, while methionine is crucial for DNA methylation and the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis).

Glutathione plays a central role in numerous biological functions, including immune support, detoxification, and enhancing the activity of other antioxidants. It is a small peptide synthesised from three non-essential amino acids: cysteine, glutamate, and glycine. The body stores the highest concentrations of glutathione in the liver, spleen, pancreas, and cornea.

As a powerful antioxidant, glutathione protects cells by neutralising free radicals and detoxifying heavy metals. Without sufficient glutathione, toxins and free radicals can accumulate, leading to oxidative stress, sluggish detox pathways, and systemic congestion. Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is frequently associated with low glutathione levels.

A prolonged glutathione deficiency—lasting months or even years—can allow heavy metals like mercury to accumulate in the body. And as widely acknowledged, mercury buildup can have serious health consequences.

Research has shown that when CBS enzyme activity is disrupted, homocysteine and other toxic byproducts can accumulate in the bloodstream. This can interfere with nutrient absorption, allowing essential nutrients to pass through the digestive tract without being utilised. Elevated homocysteine levels also contribute to plaque buildup in blood vessels, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Alex’s results:

CBS

699 C>T

TC

impacted

The notation CBS 699 C>T refers to a specific genetic variation (SNP) in the CBS gene, a key enzyme in the transsulfuration pathway that converts homocysteine to cystathionine.

🧬 Breaking it down:

• CBS = The gene name: Cystathionine Beta-Synthase

• 699 = The position of the nucleotide in the DNA sequence

• C>T = The genetic change: Cytosine (C) is replaced by Thymine (T) at position 699

💡 What It Can Mean (Depending on Your Genotype):

You can have one of three combinations:

1. C/C (wild type) – typical function, no mutation

2. C/T (heterozygous) – one mutated copy, possible mild impact

3. T/T (homozygous mutant) – two mutated copies, more likely to affect CBS enzyme activity

🧪 Functional Implication:

Some practitioners believe that CBS 699 C>T may be associated with:

• Increased CBS activity (faster conversion of homocysteine)

• Lower homocysteine levels

• Higher output of sulfur metabolites like taurine, ammonia, and sulfites

• Methylation imbalances due to “draining” of methyl groups

However, this SNP is still under debate. Some research suggests it may not significantly impact CBS function in all individuals. Functional outcomes often depend on other genes (like MTHFR, BHMT) and environmental factors (diet, toxins, stress).

⚠️ If You’re Affected:

You may benefit from:

• Supporting detox pathways (especially the liver and kidneys)

• Watching sulfur intake (onions, garlic, eggs, MSM)

• Ensuring adequate B6 (P5P) and molybdenum

• Testing homocysteine, glutathione, and sulfite levels if symptoms exist

If your CBS 699 C>T genotype is T/C, that means you are heterozygous for this SNP—you carry one normal (C) copy and one variant (T) copy of the CBS gene at position 699.

🔬 What This Means Functionally:

1. You may have slightly increased CBS activity, but not as much as someone with T/T.

2. Homocysteine may convert more quickly down the transsulfuration pathway, potentially lowering your homocysteine levels.

3. This may lead to:

   • More sulfur metabolites (like taurine, ammonia, sulfites)

   • Drain on methyl groups (since homocysteine leaves the methylation cycle faster)

   • Mild sensitivity to high-sulfur foods or supplements (like MSM, NAC, garlic)

🧠 Why It Matters (Especially if You Have MTHFR or Other SNPs):

If you also have MTHFR mutations (like C677T or A1298C), your body may already have a reduced capacity to recycle methyl groups. A fast CBS pathway may create a methylation imbalance, like draining fuel from a tank that’s already running low.

✅ Suggested Support:

• Ensure sufficient B6 (as P5P) – cofactor for CBS enzyme

• Support glutathione production with glycine, vitamin C, and NAC (only if tolerated)

• Consider molybdenum if ammonia or sulfite sensitivity is suspected

• Monitor sulfur intake – not eliminate, just be aware (e.g., garlic, eggs, cruciferous veggies)

• Check homocysteine and glutathione levels if you’re addressing fatigue, detox issues, or inflammation

Issues with the CBS gene can cause homocystinuria, an inherited disorder that keeps the body from processing the essential amino acid methionine…

NORD – Classical Homocystinuria – osmosis.org/library

PLEASE NOTE: ANY VIEWS REGARDING THE RESULTS ARE MY UNDERSTANDING AND DO NOT SERVE AS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. THE TREATMENT RECOMMENDATION IS STRICTLY RELATED TO ALEX’S RESULTS AND NOT MEANT FOR SELF-TREATMENT. ALWAYS SPEAK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE STARTING ANY TREATMENTS.