Histadelia and Methylation. Part I. Basics.

We are going to examine the methylation cycle step by step over the next several weeks, focusing on the implications for histadelia (a biotype common in bipolars, and characterized by undermethylation, folate accumulation, and high histamine -- see posts Dec 3, 2010 to Jan 27, 2011, and Nov 9, 29. )

Our purpose: to address some of those questions people tend to have about histadelia, e.g., How can folic acid supplements be harmful?  What is the connection to oxidative stress? or to sulfur sensitivity? Why is methyl B12 so important? And what does methylation do anyway? etc.

Part I: Methylation Cycle Basics 
HCY   ---via methyl-B12---   Methionine   ---via ATP---   SAMe

1 Homocysteine via methyl B12 turns into methionine.
2 Methionine via ATP and Magnesium becomes SAMe.
3 SAMe methylates body molecules and DNA.
As it loses methyl, SAMe becomes SAH, which  again forms homocysteine.
4 Homocysteine continues to cycle or, via vitamin B6, is metabolized into various sulfur molecules.

Diagram of the methylation cycle

For more info, see my book, Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Depression: Histadelia, Serotonin and Norepinephrine

Histadelia is the most common biotype in bipolars. It is characterized by undermethylation of brain neurotransmitters, including key antidepressant neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. This causes chronic severe suicidal depression.

In the last post, I directed you to:

The Mood Cure Questionaire by Julia Ross

and the rest of her site. And to:

Dr. Priscilla Slagle's free ebook (The Way Up From Down):

which also talks about the use of amino acid precursors (e.g. tyrosine and tryptophan) for depression.

However, for histadelics, the major focus is not so much on supplying the precursors for serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine, but on whether these neurotransmitters are being methylated. Intake of tyrosine, tryptophan, etc., may be helpful to some extent, but the key therapeutic target, and generally the most stabilizing treatment for the histadelic bipolar, is on getting these neurotransmitters working properly.

That is, by supporting neurotransmitter methylation with specific nutrients, while avoiding others which are counterproductive for the histadelic (such as folic acid).

 I will talk about signs and symptoms, as well as lab tests, in the next post.

For more info til then, you can always see my book: Natural Healing for Bipolar Disorder.