Addressing under-methylation and histamines

Here I am talking histamines again because it is a hot topic – AND – it is spring!

The relevance of this topic to hay fever sufferers is undeniable.

Added to this, I am noticing there is a new awareness now about histamine as an immune response.

Just why is it 'over-the-top' for some individuals?

And what about the links to personality types and depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (also known as OCD)?

Allergies and under-methylation

I have previously touched on how some people with allergies are actually under-methylators.

Methylation is important for helping to mop up an excess of histamines inside the body.

There is a whole other article about allergies and the potential role of the gut as a secret factory for histamine release along with the pitfalls associated with other biogenic amines.

The blog can be found here in case you missed it.

Why is methylation important for health?

Meanwhile, in this month’s blog, I am talking specifically about under-methylation which plays a role in histamine intolerance and much, much more…

Under-methylation basically means there are not enough methyl molecules available to add to enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Methylation is how we switch these important molecules ‘on’ or ‘off’ so they are active in our bodies.

Healthy mood, immune and other everyday bodily functions are the result of methylation.

There are actually hundreds of cellular responses that require methylation, however, under-methylation is not the same as histamine intolerance or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).

Methylation is essential for biochemical processes which occur in our body’s cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive, and detoxification systems.

What is methylation?

Methylation is a high-turnover process occurring one billion times per second!

I cannot emphasise enough just how essential this process is in order for our body to function optimally.

So, UNDER-methylation contributes to suboptimal performance (and a wide variety of health issues) in so many ways.

Genetics can contribute, but more often it is a consequence of our choices around lifestyle – and yes – also choices around diet!

What is the problem with under-methylation and how does it relate to histamine?

Methylation is highly connected to mental health.

Methyl groups are needed to support neurotransmitter activity.

Insufficient methyl groups, from for example poor nutrition, prompt a significant drop in serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels.

Low levels of these neurotransmitters either cause or contribute to many of the following conditions:

- Depression
- Perfectionism
- Obsessive-compulsive and ritualistic behaviours
- Addictive tendencies
- High achiever tendencies
- Highly competitive behaviours
- A lack of focus
- An inability to concentrate, and
- Seasonal allergies

Who fits an under-methylating pattern?

Clinically, I often find under-methylators to be individuals who possess many of the following characteristics:

- Type-A personality
- High-achiever
- Strong perfectionist tendencies
- Appearance of calm on the outside
- Presence of inner tension
- Depression

Under-methylation can also be consistent with an autism picture or even an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presentation.

What can we do to help improve matters?

Under-methylators also tend to be low in:

- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Methionine, and
- Vitamin B6

This means nutritional support, with special attention to improving the diet, forms key considerations.

What does an under-methylator diet look like?

- A diet high in plant-based foods - desirable for good gut function for an under-methylator to function well, especially where cognitive function is concerned

- Under-methylators also need adequate sources of good quality protein - this means grass-fed beef, free-range and chemical-free chicken to help make more methyl groups

- Food sources with folate present in its natural form, such as fresh (uncooked) leafy greens

Importantly, folic acid-fortified foods are to be strictly avoided as folic acid is a synthetic substance and a highly unsuitable substitute for natural folate.

Please read labels carefully and avoid foods with folic acid listed as an ingredient.

Under-methylators also respond well to ongoing nutrient therapy such as:

- Methionine
- Vitamin B6
- Zinc, and
- Magnesium

Other methyl donors come from other micronutrients including:

- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B2
- Betaine, and
- Choline

We want to take our B-group vitamins in the activated form in order to be able to utilise them well.

If you don’t know, then test!

We are all so biochemically different and require different approaches to diet and nutrients to thrive. Clinically, I often ask for homoscyteine to be tested.

Measuring homoscyteine levels provides me with a clear indication of methylation status, which can vary greatly depending on all the factors I've already mentioned.

Of course, I am looking for your results to be very specific - optimal. Not just in range.

Addressing under-methylation is an important consideration in addressing histamine intolerance and its pitfalls, especially in the treatment of individuals presenting with allergies, mood, and cognitive disorders.

Close analysis of test results, clinical features, and patient history, guides me in developing a protocol geared towards achieving your “optimal function” and health.