Methylation 101: The Tiny Process That Impacts Everything

Issue #2: July 21, 2025

🧬 The little known biological process with massive implications for your health: Methylation

It’s a behind-the-scenes process your body runs millions of times a minute, helping with detox, DNA repair, mood, inflammation and more.

One of its most crucial roles?

Converting homocysteine, an inflammatory compound, into methionine, an essential amino acid that fuels your body’s building blocks.

⚠️ Why Homocysteine Matters

When homocysteine builds up in your blood, it starts doing damage.

It’s linked to:

• Heart disease and stroke

• Cognitive decline

• Pregnancy complications

• Osteoporosis and fracture risk

📊 A 2002 study in the New England Journal of Medicine (Wald et al.) found that a 5 µmol/L increase in homocysteine levels was associated with a 2-3 times higher risk of coronary heart disease, independent of traditional risk factors like cholesterol.

And yet, it’s rarely included in routine bloodwork from your doctor. Wild.

🧪 How to Check Your Levels

Ask your doctor to include a homocysteine test in your next comprehensive blood panel. Or order one through a functional medical practitioner.

🎯 Target range: 5–7 µmol/L is optimal

Mine was 20 — with a few simple changes, I brought it down to a 6.

🔍 What Causes High Homocysteine?

Several common factors disrupt proper methylation and cause homocysteine to rise:

• Low B Vitamins: B6, B12, folate

• Genetics: Up to 60% have a variation in the MTHFR gene, slowing methylation and vitamin activation

• Lifestyle: Smoking, heavy alcohol, processed foods, stress

Think of MTHFR like a sluggish engine. It runs, but only with high-quality fuel (methylated vitamins your body can use).

💊 How to Fix It

The good news? Elevated homocysteine is very fixable. Here’s how to support healthy methylation:

• Use methylated B vitamin complex and methylated multivitamin (avoid cyanocobalamin - it contains cyanide)

  • These are already in their active “gasoline” form - ready for your body to use immediately. If your body can’t make the conversion from crude oil to fuel, those standard vitamins won’t do much.

• Eat folate and choline-rich foods

  • Leafy greens

  • Beets

  • Eggs

  • Avocados

🧠 The Big Picture

Optimized methylation protects against chronic disease by lowering inflammation, supporting heart and brain health, aiding detox and DNA repair, and reducing Alzheimer’s and heart disease risks.

It’s foundational but often overlooked, and one of the most modifiable ways to safeguard your long-term health.

When it works, you work better.

Until next week. Stay vital.

-Jordan Slotopolsky