“Small Marks, Strong Messages — Methylation Shapes Your Blueprint.”
The Methylation test that was done previously was actually part of DNA Health, but we were not aware of this, so, if you want to read the full results, you can click here.
But here is a quick summary:
Methylation:
Imagine your DNA is a cookbook. Each gene is a recipe.
Methylation is like putting a sticky note on some recipes:
✅ “Use this one!”
❌ “Don’t use this right now.”
So, methylation turns genes on or off depending on what your body needs.
If methylation doesn’t work properly, it can affect your health, your mental clarity, and even your risk for certain diseases.
The only gene that was not tested previously was MTHFD1.
DNA Health
What is MTHFD1?
MTHFD1 is a gene that makes a multi-tasking enzyme—think of it like a Swiss army knife for important chemical reactions in your body.
This enzyme performs three different jobs, all related to managing special forms of folate (vitamin B9).
What does it do?
The enzyme helps process something called “1-carbon units.”
These are tiny chemical building blocks that your body uses to:
- Make methionine (an important amino acid for protein building and methylation)
- Make thymidylate (needed for building DNA)
- Make purines (also building blocks for DNA and RNA)
So basically, it helps your body build and repair cells, especially your DNA.
Why is that important?
Without this enzyme doing its job properly:
- Your body might struggle to produce DNA and RNA correctly
- You may have issues with cell growth, repair, or energy
- It can impact things like methylation, which controls how genes are turned on or off
So, The MTHFD1 gene makes a special enzyme that helps your body use folate to build DNA, proteins, and other essential parts of your cells. It’s like a toolkit that supports cell growth, repair, and healthy gene function.
Choline is very important in methylation.
What is Choline?
Choline is an essential nutrient—that means your body needs it to function properly, but you must get it from food because your body can’t make enough on its own.
What does choline do in your body?
Think of choline as a multi-skilled worker in your body’s factory. It helps out in several important departments, including:
- Brain & Nerve Function
- Helps make neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that let your brain talk to your body.
- Helps make neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that let your brain talk to your body.
- Heart Health
- Plays a part in homocysteine metabolism (keeping levels of this substance in check to protect your heart).
- Plays a part in homocysteine metabolism (keeping levels of this substance in check to protect your heart).
- Cell Maintenance
- Helps build and maintain cell membranes, which are like the protective walls of your cells.
- Helps build and maintain cell membranes, which are like the protective walls of your cells.
- Fat Transport
Helps move fats and cholesterol (like lipoproteins and bile) to where they need to go.
How much choline do you need?
- It depends! Your need for choline varies based on:
- Your age
- Whether you’re male or female
- How active are you
- Your age
Your genes (some people naturally need more than others)
Choline is like a valuable team member in your body that helps with brain function, heart health, fat transport, and keeping your cells strong. How much you need depends on your age, gender, lifestyle, and even your DNA.
A quick look again at the genes tested in Methylation:
|
Gene Name |
Genetic Variation |
Alex’s Result |
Gene Impact |
|
MTHFD1 |
1958 G>A |
GA |
moderately impacted |
|
MTHFR |
677 C>T |
TT |
severely impacted |
|
1298 A>C |
AA |
no impact |
|
|
MTR |
2756 A>G |
AA |
no impact |
|
MTRR |
66 A>G |
GG |
moderately impacted |
|
CBS |
699 C>T |
TC |
low impact |
|
COMT |
472 G>A |
AG |
moderately impacted |
Alex’s result: MTHFD1 1958 G>A / GA
Your MTHFD1 gene helps your body process folate and other nutrients that are important for cell repair and energy production. Some people have a version of this gene called the A allele, which makes the enzyme work less effectively.
What happens if you have the A version?
If you have one or two A alleles (genotypes GA or AA), your body might:
- Struggle to process nutrients like choline properly
- Show early signs of choline deficiency
- Develop problems in your liver or muscles
This is less common in people with the GG genotype (who usually have normal enzyme function).
What should people with the GA or AA genotype do?
They may need to eat more choline-rich foods like:
- Eggs
- Chicken
- Broccoli
- Soybeans
And in some cases, take choline supplements to help avoid health issues.
So, If your body has a certain version of the MTHFD1 gene (the A version), it may not handle choline as well. That means you might need more choline from food or supplements to keep your liver and muscles healthy.
Alex’s Result: MTHFR 677 C>T/ TT
If you carry the T version of this gene:
- The enzyme works more slowly than normal
- This causes a build-up of homocysteine in the blood
- It can also lead to less DNA methylation, which your body needs to protect and repair your cells
- Less methylation can lead to DNA adducts—tiny chemical changes in your DNA that may raise the risk of disease
How much does it affect enzyme function?
- If you have one T allele (CT), your enzyme works a bit slower
- If you have two T alleles (TT), the enzyme function drops to just 40% of normal
What can you do about it?
If you have the T version of the gene (especially TT), your body may need more of these nutrients:
- Folate (vitamin B9)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
You might need to:
- Eat folate-rich foods (like leafy greens, beans, and citrus fruits)
Take a folate supplement, especially if you’re TT. You might need as much as 800 micrograms (µg) daily.
Alex’s Results: MTHFR 1298 A>C / AA – no impact
Alex’s Results: MTR 2756 A>G/ AA – no impact
Alex’s Results: MTRR 66 A>G / GG
Some people have a version of a gene called the G allele. If you have two copies of it (called the GG genotype), you may have a higher risk of certain health problems, especially if your vitamin B12 levels are low.
What can happen?
- Higher Risk of Early Heart Disease
- People with the GG version have a greater chance of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) at a younger age.
- People with the GG version have a greater chance of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) at a younger age.
- Higher Risk of Birth Defects
GG is also linked to a greater chance of neural tube defects (NTDs) in babies if the mother is low in vitamin B12 during pregnancy. (These are serious birth defects of the brain and spine.)
What should you do?
If you carry this gene version—especially the GG type—it’s important to make sure you get enough of these nutrients:
- Folate (Vitamin B9)
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
- Vitamin B6
Alex’s Results: CBS 699 C>T / TC
The 699T variant is a version of a gene that affects how your body processes folate (vitamin B9) and manages a substance called homocysteine.
Why is this variant helpful?
People who have the 699T version may have:
- A lower risk of heart disease (specifically coronary artery disease or CAD)
A stronger response to folic acid, meaning folic acid is more effective at lowering their homocysteine levels.
Why does that matter?
- Homocysteine is a natural substance in your blood, but high levels can increase your risk of heart problems
- Folic acid (a form of vitamin B9) helps reduce homocysteine
So, if you have the 699T variant, your body may do a better job of lowering homocysteine with folate
What should you do?
Even if this variant is protective, it’s still smart to:
- Check your folate intake (eat plenty of leafy greens, beans, citrus fruits)
- Test your homocysteine levels if needed
Take a folate supplement if your levels are low or your diet lacks it.
So, If you have the 699T gene variant, your body may be better at using folic acid to protect your heart. But it’s still important to eat enough folate-rich foods and check your homocysteine levels to stay healthy.
Alex’s Result: COMT 472 G>A / AG
The COMT gene helps make an enzyme that breaks down certain chemicals in your body, including estrogen (a key hormone) and stress-related brain chemicals.
What does the A allele do?
If you have the A version of this gene (called the A allele), your COMT enzyme works 3 to 4 times slower than normal. That means:
- Estrogen stays in your body longer, which can increase the risk of breast cancer
Your body may also have a harder time clearing stress hormones
How can you help your body?
If you carry the A allele, you can support healthy estrogen balance and reduce risk by:
- Eating more insoluble fibre (like from whole grains and veggies)
- Choosing healthy fats (like nuts, olive oil, and avocado—not too much saturated fat)
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
Getting enough magnesium and antioxidants (from leafy greens, nuts, band erries)
What to watch out for?
Some foods and substances like:
- Quercetin (found in onions and apples)
- Tea catechins (from green tea)
can slow down COMT activity even more. That might not be ideal if your enzyme is already working slowly.
So, If you have a certain version of the COMT gene (the A allele), your body clears out estrogen more slowly, which may raise your risk for breast cancer. You can help your body balance hormones by eating more fibre, choosing healthy fats, exercising, and getting enough magnesium and antioxidants. Be careful with things like green tea and quercetin, which might slow the process down further.
DNA Mind
Methylation and Mood regulation.
When it comes to mood regulation, methylation is important because it helps your body make and control brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These chemicals affect how you feel—your happiness, calmness, motivation, and focus.
If methylation isn’t working well (either too much or too little), it can lead to mood problems like depression, anxiety, or irritability.
|
Methylation |
MTHFR |
677 C>T |
TT |
Neurodegenerative disorder |
Mood regulation Severely impacted |
Addictive behaviour |
|
1298 A>C |
AA |
no impact |
||||
|
MTR |
2756 A>G |
AA |
no impact |
Alex’s Result: MTHFR 677 C>T/ TT
Everyone has the MTHFR gene, which helps your body process folate (vitamin B9) and make important brain chemicals called neurotransmitters (like serotonin and dopamine). These help with mood, focus, and overall mental health.
The 677 TT genotype is a version of this gene that makes the enzyme work about 70% less effectively.
If you have the TT version of the gene:
- Your body may struggle to lower homocysteine, a natural chemical that can build up and raise the risk of heart problems
- You may have a harder time making neurotransmitters, which can affect your mood and mental health
- This is especially true if your levels of folate and B vitamins (B2, B6, B12) are low
This genotype has been linked to a higher risk of depression and other mood issues.
What can you do?
To support your health if you have the TT genotype, it’s important to:
- Eat more folate-rich foods (like leafy greens, beans, lentils, citrus fruits)
- Make sure you get enough B vitamins, especially folate
Consider taking a methylated folate supplement (called methylfolate), which is an easier form for your body to use, especially if your enzyme is working slowly.
So, If you have a certain version of the MTHFR gene (called TT), your body can’t process folate as well. This can raise your risk for mood problems like depression and heart issues, especially if your B-vitamin levels are low. Eating a folate-rich diet and taking special forms of folate (like methylfolate) may help keep your body and mind healthy.
Want to find out more about Methylation in the brain, you can watch the video below:
Essential enzymes for B-vitamin-dependent methylation:
- Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) = Riboflavin (Vit B2)
- Methionine Synthase (MTR) = Methyalfolate & cobalamin (Vit B9 and Vit B12)
- Methionine Synthases Reductase (MTRR) = Methylcobalamin (vit B12)
- Cystathionine B-synthase (CBS) = Vitamin B6
- Methyl transferases (MTs), e.g. Catechol O-methyl transferase (COMT) = Magnesium
Further advice:
- Because of the COMT A allele, ensure adequate magnesium intake
- Because of the MTHFD1 A allele, ensure adequate intake of choline-rich food or supplement
- A follow-up Organic acid test to evaluate methylation and transsulfuration function
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.