As we have discussed previously, folate (B9) is an essential B vitamin necessary for methylation. Methylation is the process that adds methyl groups to molecules within your body to turn certain processes off or on. While we take methylation for granted, you should realise that adequate methylation can only occur if our diet, supplementation, and genetics allow.

Just a reminder why you need Methylation…

You need methylation for:

• Detoxification
• Neurotransmitter synthesis and use
• Protein synthesis
• DNA telomere protection
• Folate metabolism
• Hormone regulation
• Inflammation reduction
• Mitochondria protection
• Coenzyme Q10 synthesis

You cannot Methylate without Folate!

Vitamin B9, commonly referred to as folate, has a close relationship with methylation. Methylation helps to make folate while folate provides methyl groups for methylation. Now, folate goes through four stages to reach its active, methyl-producing form:

Stage 1: Folate

• Found in dark green vegetables, meat, eggs, cooked beans, avocados
• Some also made in the gut

Stage 2: Folic acid

• Found in synthetic B-vitamin supplements

Stage 3: Folinic acid

• Found in the supplement Calcium folinate

Stage 4: Methyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF)

• Active form (does not require any further conversion)
• Found in synthetic B-vitamin supplements

Could you be genetically Methyl-Deficient?

Clearly, consuming plenty of folate from your diet or supplementation is essential to having enough methyl groups available for efficient methylation. Nevertheless, research reveals that a genetic condition can prevent folate from functioning. That genetic condition involves an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, or MTHFR. MTHFR converts folic acid to its active form MTHF (stages 2 – 4 above). But if there is not enough MTHFR available, meaning you are MTHFR-deficient, your body cannot produce enough MTHF nor methyl groups for methylation. (A lack of methyl groups for methylation is referred to as undermethylation and it causes a lot of health problems).

Time to ‘Ask a Naturopath’

Overall, methylation is a sensitive process that affects many other processes within your body. And while researchers estimate that about 1 out of every 2 people in the world possesses a MTHFR genetic error some people suffer from overmethylation—the presence of too many methyl groups. Fortunately, there is a simple test you can take by swabbing the inside of your cheek to find out if you have an MTHFR error. 'Ask at Naturopath' at Mr Vitamins about this test and supplements that contain folinic acid to assist methylation