Tag Archives: Methylation

What is Methylation

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What is Methylation?

Methylation is a chemical process that happens billions of times per second in every cell of the body.1 Methyl groups are transferred and donated between many different molecules which change their structure and function. Methyl groups act like billions of switches which turn genes on or off, help regulate mood, detoxify hormones, produce energy, and promote healthy aging.

Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids from the diet are needed to keep this process running smoothly. There are also genetic factors and oxidative stressors which can affect how well this pathway works.2

Why is Methylation important?

Methylation is needed to create DNA and RNA and regulate gene expression. It helps make creatine, which is needed for skeletal muscle contraction. Methylation is involved in basic energy production, fat metabolism, immune responses, vascular health, and cell membrane repair. It produces and metabolizes neurotransmitters to regulate mood. Methylation also works to neutralize toxins and hormones.

Methylation defects have been associated with many clinical conditions including, but not limited to cancer, autism, ADHD, congenital and neural tube defects, cognitive decline, depression, cardiovascular disease, and schizophrenia.

NOTE: Due to its importance, on every single visit, I check for Methyl Donor Depletion

Philosophy of Functional Medicine

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Philosophy of Functional Medicine

Functional-Medicine-Iceberg-HMCPThe 4 P’s of Functional Medicine

  1. Predictive—decades in advance
  2. Proactive—-create health
  3. Preventative—don’t get sick to begin with
  4. Personalized—each person is unique

Functional medicine is all about understanding the causes of illness

“Causative Medicine” vs “Reactionary Medicine”

Diet             Lifestyle               Stress

Toxicity       Inflammation     Methylation

Dental        Intestinal Microbiome     Genetics/Epigenetics

Health Care at its Very Best!

                                       Dr. Princetta is 100% Result Driven

Here’s How:

  • Takes the time to know and understand each patient on all levels
  • Treats, Educates, Engages, Empowers the patient to Get Well and Stay Well
  • Addresses the Spiritual, Mental, and Emotional components of Physical illness
  • Takes the time to research conditions and solutions that are outside the box
  • Has an absolute understanding of True Cellular Detoxification
  • Has an absolutely acute understanding of the Art of Chiropractic
  • Recommends state-of-the-art supplementation wisely and judiciously
  • Has an excellent background regarding Wholesome Foods

Dr. P’s Primary Goals:

  • Keep the Mind Sharp and the Brain Healthy (#1 on the list)
  • Reduce Inflammation/Remove Oxidative Stress
  • Restore the Intestinal Microbiome (the gut is the 2nd brain)  “I fee it in my gut”
  • Support the Liver (over 1450ml of blood pass through the liver every minute)
  • Support the Heart Muscle (still the # 1 cause of death male & female)
  • Increase ATP–Energy Production of Cells
  • Restore Methylation (Methylation turns good genes on and bad genes off)
  • Repair/Restore DNA Expression
  • Maintain Healthy Blood Glucose Levels
  • Support Bone Density

The 5 R’s of Cellular Healing:

  1. Remove the Source   (Treat the causes not the symptoms)
  2. Regenerate Cell Membranes  (Mitochondria)
  3. Restore Cellular Energy
  4. Reduce Inflammation
  5. Re-establish Methylation

Dietary Suggestions:  Discussed on an individualize basis— no two people are alike

Eliminate the causes of Inflammation:

  • Sugar and Grains—sugar is secretly embedded in most every food we eat
  • Vegetable/Omega 6 Oils such as Canola, Sunflower, Safflower, Palm, Cottonseed and Soybean.  Soybean oil is 50% linoleic acid which is a strong pro-inflammatory.  These oils exist in cookies, crackers, chips, muffins, cake mixes.  They are driving Omega 6 levels through the roof and the inflammation caused by them is why Heart Disease is the # 1 cause of death in the US

GENUINE AND LASTING HEALING REQUIRES DISCIPLINED ATTENTION TO DIET & PSYCHE

             I am available for consultation via e-mail, phone and travel.

Omega 3-B Vitamins-Cognition

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Omega-3 status influences the effect of B vitamins on cognitive decline

B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients involved in numerous metabolic processes that play a significant role in cognitive health. Due to the lack of new drugs to treat cognitive impairment, researchers are looking more and more at nutrients to delay or prevent cognitive decline. An interesting study just published January 6, 2016 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease addressed this issue.  Here, researchers investigated whether omega-3 fatty acid status had an effect on the use of B vitamins in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Previous studies have already established that B vitamins can slow cognitive decline in the elderly. In fact, last week I shared the importance of vitamin B12 in learning and memory later in life, and the relationship between age-related decreased B12 levels and their association with neurological disorders.

In this new study, we see that this effect of B vitamins on cognitive decline was most pronounced in those who had above average homocysteine levels, a biomarker related to B vitamin status that may be toxic to the brain. The research team found that there was a link between omega-3 levels, homocysteine, and brain atrophy rates. The connection may lie in the fact that homocysteine plays a role in regulating phospholipid metabolism and omega-3 distribution by the methionine cycle, and B vitamins are essential for the production of phospholipids.

Two hundred and sixty six participants with MCI over 70 year of age were randomized to B vitamins (folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12) or placebo for 2 years. Researchers measured baseline cognitive test performance, clinical dementia rating (CDR) scale, and plasma concentrations of homocysteine, DHA and EPA fatty acids. The final results for verbal delayed recall, global cognition, and CDR were better in the B vitamin-treated group according to increasing baseline concentrations of omega-3s. In contrast, the scores in the placebo group were similar across these concentrations. Among those with good omega-3 status, 33% of those on B vitamin treatment had global CDR scores >0 compared with 59% among those on placebo. Among all 3 outcome measures, higher concentrations of DHA alone significantly improved the cognitive effects of B vitamins, whereas EPA appeared to be less effective.

This study demonstrated that B vitamins have no effect on cognitive decline in MCI when omega-3 levels are low. However, when omega-3 levels are in an upper normal range, B vitamins can help slow down cognitive decline and brain atrophy. These findings suggest that a combination of fish oil supplements and B vitamins may help to improve cognition and reduce age-related memory decline.

Note: The ratio of EPA to DHA needs to be 2:1

My practice utilizes a wide array of Omega products.  A wide array because what works for one patient may not necessarily work for another.

Call or write me for additional discussion on this all important connection between the Omega’s, Methylation, B Vitamins and Cognition