Dr. Alex Jimenez Explains Methylation, Nutrition & Lifestyle Habits
A variety of healthcare professionals recommend full MDL or portions of the program to their patients. Research studies report that participants have responded well to the diet plan. By way of instance, a 57-year-old male diagnosed with diffuse myalgia and arthralgia as well as a history of toxic mold exposure, who had a methyl donor intolerance and who had a baseline homocysteine of 15.7. After one month of the MDL program, his follow-up homocysteine was 11.8, which reduced his symptoms. No additional modifications were made to his diet plan. Functional medicine practitioners and doctors may utilize the MDL program in a variety of ways, including:
As a treatment for long-term methylation support
Together with folate and other supplements to improve effectiveness
As an alternative treatment option for people with methyl donor intolerance
In this article, however, we will discuss the importance of obtaining nutrients from food rather than with supplementation. The following information reviews the foundational interventions which are relevant to the Methylation Diet and Lifestyle, or MDL, program. We will also provide a collection of smoothies and juices which can help promote methylation support and effectiveness. According to healthcare professionals, nutrients from foods improve methylation support and address significant genetic SNPs.
Food-Based Nutrients
Improving methylation through non-fortified whole foods is a safe and effective treatment, as long as enough of the relevant nutrients are consumed. During a 16-week human placebo-controlled trial, an increase of 200 mcg/d folate from folate-rich foods demonstrated the same capability to increase plasma and erythrocyte folate levels as well as to lower homocysteine compared with an equal amount of supplemental folic acid or 5-mTHF as Metafolin�. Dietary folate, along with changes to lifestyle habits, can improve methylation.
There is currently no limit set for folate intake from non-fortified foods and no research studies have found side-effects from folates and other methylation nutrients from foods. But, what amount of nutrient intake is enough to optimize methylation status? This will inevitably be different for each individual based on their genetic fingerprint and environmental factors. A Cochrane systematic review, published in 2014, demonstrated that food-sourced folate could protect against the risk of cancer, specifically breast cancer, within the range of 153 � 400 mcg/d, suggesting that increased supplementation is not necessarily beneficial for the general population.
However, specific populations may have genetic or environmental factors which may need them to have higher nutrient intakes. There are a variety of nutrients involved with methylation enzymes and pathways, demonstrated as either substrates or cofactors. Table 6 below, lists these important nutrients and their dietary sources, including methionine, cysteine, taurine, DHA, zinc, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, folate, vitamin B12, betaine, choline, and sulfur. Several of these nutrients have previously been utilized as targeted supplements by many functional medicine practitioners or doctors for a wide variety of diet plans.
Depending on the genotype of the individual, nutrient intake needs can be further customized to support an individual’s potential enzyme deficiencies. Individuals with specific SNPs may benefit from increased intake of cofactor nutrients used by the associated enzyme because it has been demonstrated that increased cofactor intake can push the rate of enzymatic reactions forward. Table 7 below, lists commonly examined methylation-related genes and the nutrients that can be used to support activity and status, including MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, MAT1A, MAO, COMT, CBS, MTRR, and BHMT, as well as their cofactor nutrient support.
Nutrient Assimilation
If an individual’s needs are determined either by laboratory testing or physical exam findings, the Five-R Protocol utilized as a part of the MDL program, is outlined in Table 8 as an ideal way to improve nutrient assimilation and functional status. It can be done together with a short-term course of methylation supplementation with subsequent transition to the MDL or with the MDL from the start. Functional medicine practitioners or doctors may recommend changes to nutrition and lifestyle habits for methylation support.
Nutrient supplementation is commonly used to help promote methylation support, however, research studies have demonstrated that the best way to improve methylation activity and its overall status is through food-based nutrient intake. High doses of supplements have been known to cause side-effects but eating nutrient-rich foods provides the same if not greater benefits than supplementation. Smoothies and juices such as those listed below can promote methylation support.
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
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly, Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link.*XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Dr. Alex Jimenez Explains Methylation Status, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
As previously mentioned in the past series of articles, doctors can use a variety of clinical assessments to evaluate the methylation status of their patients. Although no assessment method or technique can accurately determine a patient’s methylation activity, current assessments can provide a better 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 help doctors and patients understand their methylation status.
Understanding Methylation Status
Various assessment methods and techniques, including measures utilized to determine DNA methylation status, are usually exclusive to research studies and are not yet readily available to doctors. Until methylation status assessments become more widely available, further diagnosis is still required to understand diseases, especially since conflicting outcome measures have been found in research studies on the various methodologies. Although methods and techniques from research studies have rapidly started to evolve, patterns of DNA methylation status in humans across cells, tissues, age, populations, environmental factors like nutrition and lifestyle modifications, as well as disease, have only just started to become more widely recognized by researchers and doctors.
It is fundamental that we focus on a variety of these indicators and that we become aware of the restrictions of our interpretations and their misunderstood factors. Plasma homocysteine, by way of instance, can decrease as methylation activity increases, but, it can also decrease when oxidative stress levels increase, regardless if methylation activity increases. However, as we�ve previously mentioned, only several SNPs have known, quantifiable alterations in enzymatic function and their overall outcome measures on methylation remain unknown. Doctors must rely on a variety of 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 doctors for patients.
Understanding Inflammation
Inflammation increases the production of cytokine which can alter a patient’s methylation status in a variety of ways. DNA methylation activity is also tremendously affected by inflammation-related signaling molecules. Cytokines, chemokines, free radicals, prostaglandins, growth factors, and matrix metalloproteinases, are produced during inflammation, altering epigenetic changes in DNA methylation activity. IL-1?, by way of instance, suppresses p53 expression, creating a more favorable environment for tumorigenesis. NF?B is a central transcription factor triggered by inflammation which also regulates the expression of more than 400 genes.
Moreover, it directly regulates NK?B-dependent histone demethylase which in turn regulates the fate and transdifferentiation of tumor cells. IL-6, another inflammatory signaling molecule, regulates the activity of DNMTs, microRNAs and histone methyltransferases which affect the epigenetics of p53 tumor suppressor genes by reducing expression. TNF-alpha increases in mitotically-preserved and region-specific DNA methylation activity in a way that seems to include impaired cellular differentiation and renewal. In vitro outcome measures suggest that inflammation may also promote the production of methyl radicals which trigger DNA methylation activity in normal, unmethylated tumor suppressor genes, causing gene silencing and carcinogenesis.
Inflammation can also cause a metabolic milieu that drains methylation resources, by way of instance, through the dysregulation of glucose homeostasis. Pro-inflammatory molecules can also alter insulin signaling in peripheral tissues, reducing inflammatory mediators that promote insulin signaling. Insulin dysfunction and hyperglycemia promote elevated levels of oxidative stress which triggers increased utilization of glutathione and depleted homocysteine, methionine and SAMe. Furthermore, DNA methylation patterns affecting metabolism and inflammation were identified in adipose tissue from subjects with type 2 diabetes.
Understanding Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is closely associated with inflammation. States of elevated, or chronic, oxidative stress can negatively alter DNA methylation through two mechanisms. First, oxidative stress increases the demand for glutathione synthesis, which pulls homocysteine towards transulfuration pathways, at the expense of methylation pathways and SAMe formation. Second, oxidative stress and increased hydroxyl radical formation can damage DNA and change the ability of DNA methyltransferase enzymes to appropriately methylate DNA. This is one of the most common causes of global DNA hypomethylation and specific areas of hypermethylation.
DNA guanine nucleotides are main regions of DNA damage caused by oxidative stress, which is why they are frequently utilized as a biomarker for DNA-level oxidative stress, or 8OHdG. Generally, guanine functions as a hydrogen bond acceptor to promote the creation of methyl binding protein, or MBP, DNA complexes. However, oxidation of guanine considerably decreases MBP binding when combined to the 5- methylcytosine nucleotide. Additionally, 5-methylcytosine, or 5-mC, may also experience oxidation or hydroxylation, forming 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, or 5-hmC, through oxidative stress. This can tremendously affect interactions with DNA-proteins that can prevent their binding affinity to MBPs, leading to potentially heritable epigenetic alterations.
The methods and techniques commonly utilized to determine DNA methylation can’t distinguish between 5-mC and 5-hmC, which may prove to be an essential distinction, especially in the brain, where most DNA hydroxymethylation can be found. There is outcome measures which demonstrate that acute psychological stress can increase DNA hydroxymethylation in the hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor gene. This epigenetic alteration can lead to the development of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Aging is also associated with increases in 5-hmC in the brain which may be prevented by caloric restriction and antioxidant upregulation.
A variety of research studies have found that DNA methylation can be affected by inflammation, most commonly caused due to oxidative stress. Increasing outcome measures have also demonstrated that methylation activity may become affected in response to both nutritional and environmental influences. Alterations in DNA methylation caused by inflammation and oxidative stress can lead to problems in gene expression, increasing the potential risk of disease. Understanding the effects of inflammation due to oxidative stress is fundamental when investigating epigenetic mechanisms. DNA methylation assessments based on inflammation and oxidative stress 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
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly, Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link.*XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Healthcare professionals can use several clinical assessments to examine the methylation status of their patients. But, there is not one type of assessment method or technique that can accurately show the complexity of methylation in the human body. Current assessments can help offer an understanding for methylation-related genetic polymorphisms, nutrient status, methylation-related neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter metabolites, amino acids, hormones and metabolites, oxidative stress, and detoxification load. The majority of these processes and substances can also help offer an understanding of a patient’s overall methylation status.
Understanding Methylation Status
Various assessment methods and techniques, such as measures used to determine DNA methylation status, are usually limited to research studies and are not yet available to healthcare professionals. As DNA methylation status assessments become more available, treatment is important to understand data since conflicting outcome measures have been found in research studies based on several methodologies as methylation is further examined. Furthermore, although methods and techniques, as well as research studies, are quickly evolving, patterns of DNA methylation status in humans across cells, tissues, age, populations, environmental factors such as nutrition and lifestyle modifications, and disease, are only just being recognized by a majority of healthcare professionals.
It is essential that we emphasize several of these indicators and be mindful of the limitations of our interpretations as well as their misunderstood factors. Plasma homocysteine, for example, can decrease as methylation activity increases, but, it can also decrease when oxidative stress levels increase, independently if methylation activity increases But, as we�ve previously discussed, only a few SNPs have known, quantifiable changes in enzymatic function, and even then, their overall outcome measures on methylation are unknown. Healthcare professionals must rely on a variety of clinical assessments to determine methylation health and wellness. In the following articles, we will discuss several methylation status clinical assessment options available to healthcare professionals.
Understanding Methylation Metabolites
To understand how DNA methylation status can be measured through the various assessment methods and techniques previously discussed, we must first understand how methylation metabolites influence methylation status. As demonstrated in Table 3, several laboratory-assessed metabolites are used in the assessment of methylation status. These have been recorded as follows.
Understanding Nutrient Assimilation Capability
In the previous article, we also discussed how nutrient status can depend on several factors. Although optimal nutrient status begins with the food we eat, it is through the process of digestion, absorption, transport, utilization, and metabolism of each nutrient which must function together to promote the necessary effect. Two of the most common problems occur in the process of digestion and absorption. Healthcare practitioners utilizing an MDL program may also examine and correct gastric function, pancreatic function, intestinal dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, food sensitivities, and malabsorption issues. The majority of these processes and substances can ultimately affect the absorption of essential nutrients necessary for DNA methylation status and activity.
Several methods and techniques have become widely available to healthcare professionals in order to show the DNA methylation status of patients. DNA methylation is identified by the combination of a methyl group to DNA. Healthcare professionals must first understand the good and the bad of these various methods and techniques which have become widely available to show methylation status and to allow them to make an informed choice when deciding which assessment will best suit their research study needs and the overall health and wellness of the patient.
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
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly, Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link.*XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Healthcare professionals can utilize a variety of clinical assessments to evaluate the methylation status of patients. However, there is no single assessment method or technique which can accurately demonstrate the complexity of methylation in the human body. Current assessments can help provide an understanding into methylation-related genetic polymorphisms, nutrient status, methylation-related neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter metabolites, amino acids, hormones and metabolites, oxidative stress, and detoxification load, all of which can also help provide the understanding of a patient’s methylation status.
Understanding Methylation Status
Some assessment methods and techniques, including measures to determine DNA methylation status, are generally limited to research studies and are not yet available to healthcare professionals. As DNA methylation status assessments become available, healthcare is necessary to understand data because conflicting outcome measures have been demonstrated in research studies based on a variety of methodologies while methylation is further evaluated. Moreover, although methods and techniques, as well as research studies, are quickly evolving, patterns of DNA methylation status in humans across cells, tissues, age, populations, environmental factors like nutrition and lifestyle modifications, and disease, are only just being characterized by healthcare professionals.
It is essential that we emphasize a variety of indicators and be mindful of the restrictions of our interpretations as well as their misunderstood factors. Plasma homocysteine, by way of instance, can decrease as methylation activity improves, however, it can also decrease when oxidative stress levels increase, independently of methylation activity improvements. But, as we�ve previously discussed, only a few SNPs have known, quantifiable changes in enzymatic function, and even then, their overall outcome measures on methylation are unknown. Healthcare professionals must depend on multiple clinical assessments to determine methylation health. In the following articles, we will discuss methylation status assessment options available to healthcare professionals.
Understanding Genetic Profiling
Genetic profiling can help provide some evidence of potential methylation status and risk of developing diseases. Several gene SNPs increase methylation activity, such as CBS, and several other gene SNPs may decrease methylation activity, such as MTHFR, BNMT, MTR, MTRR, and AHCY. However, understanding the overall outcome measures of gene SNPs is complicated to determine through polymorphisms and environmental factors. By way of instance, research studies have demonstrated that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, (with an odds ratio = 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.85), however, similar research studies have also demonstrated that this risk can decrease through periconceptional folate or folic acid intake.
Furthermore, if a maternal MTHFR C677T polymorphism is combined with a CBS polymorphism, a lack of prenatal supplementation with B vitamins, and a fetal COMT polymorphism, the odds ratio for autism spectrum disorder can increase tremendously, (7.2, CI = 2.3�22.4; P=0.05). The risk of diseases associated with genotype is unfortunately rare because research studies on the combined outcome measures of gene SNPs are still very much in their early stages. In many circumstances, healthcare professionals will need to use careful clinical assessments to evaluate as well as to guide their treatments. The methylation-related genes presented in Table 1 below are frequently evaluated for SNPs. The outcome measures can help doctors understand patient methylation status.
A variety of methods and techniques are available to determine the methylation status of patients. However, the assessment of methylation status can still be challenging for many healthcare professionals. DNA methylation is characterized by the addition of a methyl group to DNA. Healthcare professionals must first understand the pros and cons of the variety of methods and techniques available to determine methylation status to allow them to make an informed choice when deciding which assessment will best suit their research study needs.
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
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly, Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link.*XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Dr. Alex Jimenez Explains Why Methylation Can Go Wrong
As previously discussed, many healthcare professionals have demonstrated potential concerns associated with folic acid and methyl-folate supplementation. Some risks of folic acid or other folate derivative supplements, such as commonly used alternatives like 5-mTHF and folinic acid, have become widely recognized and they aren’t frequently discussed. These diseases are described below.
Several of these diseases can usually be treated with vitamin B12 supplementation, respectively, and although fundamental, these are not the main focus of the article. However, we will continue to discuss whether or not the side-effects of folic acid supplementation, or aberrant DNA methylation activity, are a result of methylation gone wrong. Epidemiological data suggests an inverse association between folate status and risk of health issues. Research studies have demonstrated that excessive methylation may be harmful.
Diseases Caused by Aberrant Methylation
Aberrant methylation caused by folic acid supplementation is not explained by UMFA or DHF. Therefore, healthcare professionals cannot rule out the possibility of excessive or aberrant methylation as a contributing and/or underlying factor for health issues.
Cancer
Aberrant DNA methylation has been associated as a cause of a variety of cancers. Both loci-specific DNA hyper- and hypo-methylation has been demonstrated to occur in cancer cells, suggesting that both states can be distinguishing of tumorigenesis. Global DNA hypermethylation is also demonstrated in various cancer cells, as shown in Figure 2. The association between folic acid supplementation and colorectal cancer has been evaluated numerous times in research studies. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated inconsistent and inconclusive evidence on the association between folic acid on colorectal cancer risk.
However, these research studies may oversee important details about the type, dose, and effect of supplementation as well as the folate, methylation, and disease status of the patient. By way of instance, specific DNA methylation in patients with stage II and III colon cancer has been considerably associated with the increased risk of developing future as well as predicting overall survival (hazard ratio 2.9, 95% CI 1.5-5.8, P=0.002) and disease-free survival (hazard ratio 4.0, 95% CI 1.6-10.2, P=0.003). In another research study, a randomized, controlled trial evaluating the potential benefits of 1 mg/d of folic acid supplementation for the prevention of colorectal adenomas, researchers found that folic acid failed to reduce the risk of the disease. As a matter of fact, researchers found that the risks of colorectal adenoma and noncolorectal cancers, especially prostate cancer, actually increased considerably.
Folic acid intake on breast cancer has also been evaluated in various research studies and is widely considered controversial. By way of instance, in one observational research study, dietary supplementation with folic acid greater or equal to 400 mcg/d was associated with a 20 percent increase in the risk of breast cancer compared with those reporting no supplement intake. In contrast, according to a 2014 Cochrane systematic review, food-sourced folate has protective properties against cancer. A recently published retrospective analysis gathered data from 367,993 women to demonstrate that higher food folate intake is associated with a lower risk of sex-hormone receptor-negative breast cancer in premenopausal women. However, further research studies are still required.
The connection between folate and cancer has also been tremendously analyzed. In a research study of women with breast cancer (n=204) compared with controls (n=408), participants with the highest tertile of plasma folate (median 17 nmol/L) had the highest risk of ER?(-) breast cancer (odds ratio 2.67, CI 1.44�4.92, P=0.001). Several researchers had previously shown an increased risk in breast cancer specifically when the MTHFR C667T polymorphism was combined with high plasma folate levels, which may be a potential concern because patients who are diagnosed with this polymorphism are among the most frequent to take supplemental folates.
In another case-control research study of approximately 300 participants, it appeared that increased levels of serum folate promoted the progression of existing benign tumors, or polyps, into colorectal cancer, however, it also prevented carcinogenesis in healthy controls, leading researchers to determine that serum folate can have dual roles in the onset and progression of cancer. Additionally, recent research studies demonstrate potential dysregulation of one-carbon metabolism in cancer cells, specifically methionine uptake transporters, while increasing the serine-glycine biosynthesis pathway. These outcome measures may potentially explain the harmful effects of folic acid, as well as that of other forms of folate, where there is a prior history of cancer in participants.
We can�t know from these research studies what folate derivative plays the biggest role in these outcome measures, because serum folate demonstrates various folate vitamers, however, we do know that serum folate is largely made up of 5-MTHF, about 86.7% percent, with UMFA typically making up a much smaller amount, about 4.0 percent. Whether the effect of the smaller amount of UMFA is enough to cause the progression of pre-cancerous lesions or whether increased levels of 5-MTHF are also implicated, healthcare professionals have to determine which intervention to choose to present the least risk to the patient’s overall health and wellness.
Autoimmunity
Systemic sclerosis is a misunderstood autoimmune health issue characterized by endothelial injury, immune abnormalities, and fibrosis. It is believed to develop from epigenetic dysfunction in immune cells which trigger immune cell activation and proliferation. Variations in several epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Hypermethylation of specific genes, Fli-1, KLF5, and BMPRII, can ultimately reduce their anti-fibrotic effects. Conversely, the overexpression of immune cells CD40L, CD70, and CD11a, are also involved and have been associated with hypomethylation of their corresponding genes, among other functions.
The pathogenesis of other autoimmune conditions may also be influenced through methylation. IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis, or AIP, and other autoimmune-like phenotypes are associated with MST1, a serine/threonine kinase, deficiency in humans, which leads to T-cell immunodeficiency and hypergammaglobulinemia with autoantibody production. IgG4-related AIP patients who also exhibit extrapancreatic lesions demonstrate a considerable increase in the methylation of MST1 and decreased protein development, suggesting that this gene is regulated through methylation and may be associated to the underlying disease. Aberrant methylation, both hypo- and hyper, have also been shown in rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune thyroid diseases.
Allergy
We also found that researchers believe that environmental exposures which increased DNA methylation may also increase the risk for allergic disease by suppressing Th1 and T regulatory cell differentiation which would otherwise prevent the differentiation of allergy-promoting Th2 cells. In a research study of elderly men (n=704), minor increases, about 0.31 percent, in methylation at gene Alu repeat sequences have been considerably associated with prior sensitization to at least one allergen, raising the possibility that even small changes in epigenetic regulators might have considerable clinical effects. Hypermethylation at specific CpG sites is believed to be useful for differentiating clinically non-reactive and clinically reactive food-allergic phenotypes than serum IgE and skin prick testing.
Down Syndrome
In Down Syndrome, early-life downregulation of the TET family genes involved in DNA demethylation and downregulation of REST transcription factor expression and subsequent methylation of REST-vacant sites, are believed to be potential pathways leading to the global DNA hypermethylation associated with Down Syndrome. More details can be found in Figure 3 below.
Reasons to be Cautious
While the effects of methylated folate or folic acid cannot be conclusively determined from the research studies discussed above, there are enough unknowns to justify potential concerns. Research studies are ongoing and it is not yet clear how aggressive 5- MTHF, or other methylation supplementation, affects well-being or the progression of diseases. Data suggest that we should be cautious and focus on supporting the body�s own health and wellness for methylation balance rather than attempting to override them.
Metabolic and DNA methylation are complex in their regulation of gene expression. Epigenomic regulation also depends on many environmental inputs, including both nutritional and lifestyle modifications, which make up methylation activity regulation. A safer way to support methylation activity, especially over the longer term, is through food-based nutrients as well as food and lifestyle practices which have been demonstrated to promote favorable methylation activity and epigenetic imprints in patients with these diseases.
DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic mechanism which regulates gene expression, cell energy production, detoxification, and many other functions. Unfortunately, some people may experience methylation health issues which can affect overall health and wellness. Many health professionals may help treat these methylation problems with supplementation, however, research studies have demonstrated that supplementation can sometimes cause methylation to go wrong. Aberrant methylation can cause a variety of diseases, including cancer, autoimmunity, allergy, and down syndrome.
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
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly, Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link.*XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Dr. Alex Jimenez Explains Why Methylation Can Go Wrong
Many healthcare professionals have demonstrated several potential concerns associated with folic acid and methyl-folate supplementation. Several risks of folic acid or other folate derivative supplements, including commonly utilized alternatives such as 5-mTHF and folinic acid, have become widely recognized and they aren’t frequently discussed. These health issues are described below.
The increased intake of these supplements can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiencies are normally characterized by megaloblastic anemia, however, when folate levels are too high, cell division will continue to occur within the bone marrow and this will mask the anemia. Unaddressed vitamin B12 deficiencies can cause irreversible neurological damage and cognitive impairment.
Folate or folic acid supplements may also reduce the efficiency of certain anti-folate drugs and/or medications, such as methotrexate, anti-cancer, anti-malarial, and anti-bacterial medicines.
These health issues are generally treated with vitamin B12 supplementation, respectively, and although important, these are not the main focus of the article. However, we will discuss whether or not the side-effects of folic acid supplementation, or aberrant DNA methylation activity, are a result of methylation gone wrong. Epidemiological data suggests an inverse association between folate status and risk of disease. Research studies have demonstrated that excessive methylation factors may be harmful.
Health Issues Caused by Aberrant Methylation
Aberrant methylation caused by folic acid supplementation is not explained by UMFA or DHF. Therefore, healthcare professionals cannot rule out the possibility of excessive or aberrant methylation as a contributing and/or underlying factor for disease.
Immune Dysregulation and Dysfunction
Epigenetics has been demonstrated to play an essential role in the development of allergic diseases. By way of instance, epigenetic alterations, including DNA hyper- and hypomethylation, are associated with childhood IgE-mediated food allergies. Although not all research studies agree with the outcome measures regarding these specific mechanisms of action, there are several findings connecting the intake of methyl donors with the development of disease which prompt potential concerns for further investigation.
Several research studies have associated folic acid intake during pregnancy with an increased risk for developing allergic diseases in offspring. Increased levels of maternal folic acid supplementation, or more than 500 mcg/d as compared to less than 200 mcg/d, have been associated with an 85 percent increased risk for developing allergic eczema. In animals, maternal supplementation with a combination of folic acid, vitamin B12, choline, L-methionine, zinc, and betaine during pregnancy enhanced the development of many symptoms of allergic airway diseases, including airway hyperreactivity and higher concentrations of serum IgE.
Similar maternal supplementation with non-dietary methyl donors, including synthetic folic acid, has been demonstrated to increase offspring susceptibility to developing inflammatory bowel disease. Another research study, not of maternal intake, demonstrated that folic acid intake above 600 mcg/d, from either food and/or supplements, was associated with impaired natural killer cell activity.
Blood Sugar Dysregulation
Maternal folic acid supplementation at 500 mcg/d has also been associated with increased incidence of insulin resistance in children at 6 years of age, an effect apparently exacerbated by low maternal vitamin B12 status, according to research studies.
Prenatal Development Dysfunction
Increased folic acid intake is also associated with embryonic loss, growth delay, and increased risk of ventricular septal heart defects.
Comorbidity and Mortality in Diabetic Adults
In a retrospective research study of approximately 526 diabetic adults, increased levels of RBC folate were associated with an increased risk for developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. In addition, the ratio for dying within 15 years in those with high RBC folate was 2.10, or 95 percent CI = 1.37 � 3.20, compared with a baseline of those with low RBC folate.
If the association between increased methylation and disease are caused through alterations in methylation activity, the possibility exists that alternative forms of folate supplementation can also change methylation activity in ways that could cause the same risks.
Changes in folate have been demonstrated to affect DNA methylation. Many healthcare professionals turn to folate supplements in under-methylating patients to help �regulate� DNA methylation activity. Unfortunately, research studies regarding the effect of folate and methylation on the DNA �methylome� are conflicting and inconclusive. However, healthcare professionals should not ignore that increasing levels of folate and SAMe methyl donors might increase DNA methylation beyond healthy levels.
According to researchers, if there is too little methylation present, a gene that causes disease may be expressed. Conversely, if there is too much methylation present, a gene that prevents disease may be suppressed. If this is indeed true, we can only assume that when methylation goes wrong, our overall health and wellness can be affected. In part 2 of this article, Dr. Alex Jimenez explains how methylation can go wrong, specifically discussing cancer, autoimmune conditions, immune hypersensitivity and Down Syndrome.
DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic mechanism which regulates gene expression, cell energy production, detoxification, and many other functions. Unfortunately, some people may experience methylation health issues which can affect overall health and wellness. Many health professionals may help treat these methylation problems with supplementation, however, research studies have demonstrated that supplementation can sometimes cause methylation to go wrong. Aberrant methylation can cause a variety of health issues, including immune dysregulation and dysfunction, blood sugar dysregulation, and prenatal development dysfunction.
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
XYMOGEN�s Exclusive Professional Formulas are available through select licensed health care professionals. The internet sale and discounting of XYMOGEN formulas are strictly prohibited.
Proudly, Dr. Alexander Jimenez makes XYMOGEN formulas available only to patients under our care.
Please call our office in order for us to assign a doctor consultation for immediate access.
If you are a patient of Injury Medical & Chiropractic Clinic, you may inquire about XYMOGEN by calling 915-850-0900.
For your convenience and review of the XYMOGEN products please review the following link.*XYMOGEN-Catalog-Download
* All the above XYMOGEN policies remain strictly in force.
Although high-dose methyl donor supplements can help patients with methylation deficits, some healthcare professionals may occasionally encounter patients with an intolerance to methylation donors. Patients with an intolerance to methyl donors can experience worsening symptoms as well as the appearance of neurological symptoms, regardless of their need for methylation support. Neurological symptoms may include, anxiety, depression, irritability, and brain fog, among other symptoms.
Intolerances to methyl donor supplements are not properly understood and further research studies are required to help determine the frequency and effects of these problems. It’s believed that the impaired metabolism of catecholamines through COMT and MAOA may play a role in the intolerance of methylation donors. Increased SAH is also believed to cause a variety of adverse effects.
Case 1.0: Methyl Donor Intolerance with COMT Polymorphism
A 31-year-old female diagnosed with a long-term panic disorder and a recent onset of agoraphobia demonstrated homozygous for COMT and MTHFR single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, through genetic testing. Vanilmandelic acid, or VMA, and homovanillate, or HVA, urinary organic acids were found to be between low and low-normal, respectively, indicating poor clearance of norepinephrine and epinephrine. These catecholamines are catabolized through COMT methylation, and their poor clearance may increase anxiety symptoms. Her homocysteine levels, on the other hand, were normal which demonstrated that either the MTHFR SNP was still functional enough to maintain SAMe levels, or that increased oxidative stress was confounding the normal homocysteine finding by increasing transsulfuration of homocysteine for glutathione formation.
High-dose methylated folate and betaine supplements were recommended, however, the patient immediately reported experiencing aggravated symptoms. This may have occurred due to the increased production of SAMe from the combined effects of the supplementation. SAMe levels in the brain regulate the rate of epinephrine biosynthesis from norepinephrine through methylation, therefore, increased SAMe availability could have triggered increased epinephrine synthesis. The decreased clearance due to the COMT SNP could have been the underlying cause for the increased symptomatology. Replacing methylated folate with unmethylated folic acid, and the discontinuation of betaine supplements resulted in significant symptom improvement, including the resolution of agoraphobia. Case adapted with permission from Lord & Bralley, 2012, Case Illustration 11.1 p. 594.
Folic Acid Supplement Risks
Furthermore, fortification and standard folic acid supplementation are believed to increase the risks of developing neural tube defects, particularly at levels above 400 mcg/d of dietary folate equivalent units, or DFEs. Folic acid is a purely synthetic compound which must first be converted to tetrahydrofolate, or THF, by being cycled twice through the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, or DHFR, to be utilized in methylation. One cause of folic acid side-effects include elevated unmetabolized folic acid or UMFA.
Folic acid side-effects and restricted capacity of liver DHFR are believed to be the main problems in folic acid metabolism. One-time folic acid doses of 260 mcg or multiple folic acid doses of 100 mcg throughout the day have been demonstrated to cause detectable UMFA. People who regularly consume fortified foods, such as ready-to-eat cereals and fortified grains, are exposed to folic acid beyond the Tolerable Upper Limit of 1.0 mg/d, and with the utilization of multivitamin supplements, it may increase beyond that.
Folic acid from supplements is also much more easily absorbed than folate from foods. One DFE is equivalent to 1 mcg of dietary folate as compared to 0.6 mcg of folic acid from supplements taken with food or fortified foods. Therefore, 400 mcg of folic acid is equivalent to 667 mcg DFE. Research studies associate higher levels of folic acid intake with other side-effects. Dihydrofolate, or DHF, the intermediate metabolite in the conversion of folic acid to tetrahydrofolate and UMFA, can cause a variety of health issues.
DHF has been demonstrated to prevent thymidylate synthase and purine synthesis enzymes, which can affect DNA synthesis. DHF is also believed to restrict the production of the MTHFR enzyme, which can lead to a decrease in methionine synthesis and homocysteine clearance. A recent research study demonstrated that 5 mg/d of folic acid supplementation in infertile men demonstrated an unexpected reduction in sperm DNA methylation, similar to patients homozygous for the MTHFR C667T polymorphism.
Other research studies have also reported a connection between fortification and standard folic acid supplementation and colorectal cancer. According to the research studies, UMFA may actually metabolize through photo-catalysis into DNA-toxic products. A recent research study which evaluated the connection between UMFA and colorectal cancer diagnosis demonstrated a small positive association in men and individuals with the MTHFR C677T genotype, both heterozygous and homozygous.
However, the research studies demonstrated a small inverse association with women. Higher UMFA was also found to be associated with anemia in US seniors who consumed alcohol and reduced NK cell cytotoxicity in otherwise healthy postmenopausal women. Recent research studies looking at folate receptors in epithelial cancers demonstrated a high frequency of receptor FR-alpha which uptakes UMFA. It is believed that FR-alpha promotes tumor progression and reduces apoptosis through increased expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Folic acid exposure to tumor cells in-vitro was demonstrated to enhance the progress of this process.
Methylation is a biochemical process required for cell division, DNA and RNA synthesis, gene expression, histamine clearance, detoxification, and cellular energy metabolism, among other essential functions. As important as methylation, however, many people are diagnosed with methylation deficits, which can cause a variety of health issues. Healthcare professionals recommend high-dose methyl donors to help treat methylation deficits. But, are we supplementing too much? Some patients may have an intolerance to methylation donors and they may experience side-effects, such as worsening symptoms or neurological symptoms.
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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