The methylation cycle is a foundational biological pathway that affects many aspects of your well-being.
In a nutshell, methylation is the donation of a methyl group that is needed for a variety of reactions such as DNA synthesis, neurotransmitter synthesis, and detoxification of some toxins. A methyl group is a carbon plus three hydrogens, and this can be easily used in biological reactions. Many of the molecules that make up your body have a backbone of carbons and hydrogens, so adding another carbon plus three hydrogens (methyl group) can modify the compound.
Where to start:
Utilize our Methylation Cycle Topic Summary Reports with your 23andMe or AncestryDNA genetic data to see which articles may be most relevant to you. These summaries are attempting to distill the complex information down into just a few words. Please see the linked articles for details and complete references. (Member’s article)
Spurred on by a podcast, I share a great breakfast that supports the methylation cycle. Gelatin is an excellent source of glycine, an amino acid that is often short-changed in our modern diet. You can even add it to your morning coffee.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is a water-soluble vitamin cofactor for many enzymes in the body. However, several genetic variants can cause an increased need for riboflavin.