Why Methylation Matters For Your Health

Those with autoimmune disorders might want to pay careful attention to what methylation is and learn about the role it plays in the body since there is strong evidence to indicate that it might play a role in various autoimmune disorders. So, what is methylation, and why is it so crucial to our biological functioning?

Methylation Controls Inflammatory Responses

In the most basic terms, methylation is the addition of one methyl group to another molecule. It controls many things, including replication of DNA and the stress response (better known as “fight-or-flight”). It also controls inflammation due to its creation of glutathione. Glutathione fends off the production of most inflammatory cytokines, so a glutathione deficiency generally results in inflammation and could be an agent in causing some autoimmune symptoms.

Methylation Supports Immune Health

Your immune health can be influenced by the activity of methyl groups. If you are experiencing demethylation, however, your immune system can suffer. When this is happening in your body, methyl groups won’t be able to assist antioxidants (such as lipoic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E) like they need to. Since antioxidants play a major role in reducing oxidative stress (which is commonly found to be high in those with autoimmune disorders), it is crucial that your body is able to support them.

Methylation Helps Repair Damage From Free Radicals

Free radicals get into our bodies all the time. We can’t see them, touch them, or taste them, but they are there. These uncharged molecules can do a lot of cellular damage, especially if our bodies are not producing enough of their own antioxidants, which are responsible for neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals steal electrons from cells during oxidation, causing oxidative damage. While we can’t totally prevent free radicals from doing damage, methyl groups can, when optimally functioning, help neutralize them and repair oxidative damage.

Methylation’s role in autoimmune disorders is something scientists and doctors are still trying to understand, but there is a lot of research to support the idea that methylation is important in keeping our bodies functioning as best they can.

If you or a loved one are experiencing these types of symptoms, be sure to contact our office online or call 303-343-8800 to schedule an appointment.