Kathevans
Senior Member
- Messages
- 689
- Location
- Boston, Massachusetts
Right up front, I don’t have a scientific bent.
So, when my doctor, whose methylation knowledge seems to be Yasko-centric, said I must correct my CBS snps before working on methylation or my pain would be worse, I was concerned, but not convinced.
Blood work last December showed somewhat low homocysteine at <4.9 umol/L in a range looking for <9.0; and cystathione <dl, below range.
At the time I was taking 2 Country Life Coenzyme B Complex tablet/day, as I had for a decade or more, and I was just beginning to understand that 400 mcg Methyl-Folate and 250mcg MeB12, given my snps, was probably putting me into methyltrap and causing the heaps of pain I was experiencing. It took me about six months of experimentation with the Bs, wading through pain, exhaustion, mania, depression and a visit to the emergency room to finally get off it. It felt like a true addiction I had to get rid of.
I'm beginning to settle in to Nature Made’s B-complex—very low Bs/no methyl donors—and a bit of basic B6 @ 25 mg/day. I felt stable enough and clear enough about the issues last week to start a bit of MeB12--only at 250 mcg, which we know via Freddd means roughly 80mcg of absorption. Pain is less, I’m getting better at noticing the signs of methyltrap, even if I’m not yet addressing them. Which is to say, I'm wondering whether I need more folate, given all my veggies and salads, or more MeB12. Sleep is still a mess. Little steps, I tell myself. Patience.
Part of me assumed that the folate:meb12 ratio was, for me, causing over-methylation and that this was a possible cause of the low homocysteine. My doc says, no. I pointed out my CBS C699T is fine, or in any case GG. I do have CBS A360A +/- (AG), which I see can have some, though less effect. In 2003, a study showed that these polymorphisms did not show a significant difference in homocysteine level due to the different genotypes. But…
Both my Nutreval and OAT Tests were performed prior to getting off the B-complex, so I feel dubious about their results, though in them I have normal plasma Taurine (7.28 in a range of 5.00-8.50) and Ammonia levels, though I understand that it’s actually Urine levels that are important. (Not to mention that my eyes sting…and this has gotten worse since going off the B-Complex) Methionine was LOW, Glutamine/ Glutamate NORMAL and Glutathione 943 (in a range >=669)
The doctor also said I might benefit from BH4 supplementation, though it was hard or impossible to get…
He says basically that if I have low homocysteine, the symptom ‘proves’ I have Upregulated CBS. And from what I’ve read, if this is the case, increasing methylation will ultimately worsen things rather than improve them. (And it’s true, everything does seem inflamed) Even B6/P-5-P is said to be an “Ammonia Provoker”, something I ought to limit. Today I took a bit more because it seems to really help with sleep, not to mention oxalates!
Should I be experimenting with the low sulphur diet? (which will be quite limiting as I’m already on the low oxalate/low carb)
What’s important here? As so often happens, the more I read, the more confused I get. And this dull headache I have is definitely not helping.
Thanks for any suggestions…
So, when my doctor, whose methylation knowledge seems to be Yasko-centric, said I must correct my CBS snps before working on methylation or my pain would be worse, I was concerned, but not convinced.
Blood work last December showed somewhat low homocysteine at <4.9 umol/L in a range looking for <9.0; and cystathione <dl, below range.
At the time I was taking 2 Country Life Coenzyme B Complex tablet/day, as I had for a decade or more, and I was just beginning to understand that 400 mcg Methyl-Folate and 250mcg MeB12, given my snps, was probably putting me into methyltrap and causing the heaps of pain I was experiencing. It took me about six months of experimentation with the Bs, wading through pain, exhaustion, mania, depression and a visit to the emergency room to finally get off it. It felt like a true addiction I had to get rid of.
I'm beginning to settle in to Nature Made’s B-complex—very low Bs/no methyl donors—and a bit of basic B6 @ 25 mg/day. I felt stable enough and clear enough about the issues last week to start a bit of MeB12--only at 250 mcg, which we know via Freddd means roughly 80mcg of absorption. Pain is less, I’m getting better at noticing the signs of methyltrap, even if I’m not yet addressing them. Which is to say, I'm wondering whether I need more folate, given all my veggies and salads, or more MeB12. Sleep is still a mess. Little steps, I tell myself. Patience.
Part of me assumed that the folate:meb12 ratio was, for me, causing over-methylation and that this was a possible cause of the low homocysteine. My doc says, no. I pointed out my CBS C699T is fine, or in any case GG. I do have CBS A360A +/- (AG), which I see can have some, though less effect. In 2003, a study showed that these polymorphisms did not show a significant difference in homocysteine level due to the different genotypes. But…
Both my Nutreval and OAT Tests were performed prior to getting off the B-complex, so I feel dubious about their results, though in them I have normal plasma Taurine (7.28 in a range of 5.00-8.50) and Ammonia levels, though I understand that it’s actually Urine levels that are important. (Not to mention that my eyes sting…and this has gotten worse since going off the B-Complex) Methionine was LOW, Glutamine/ Glutamate NORMAL and Glutathione 943 (in a range >=669)
The doctor also said I might benefit from BH4 supplementation, though it was hard or impossible to get…
He says basically that if I have low homocysteine, the symptom ‘proves’ I have Upregulated CBS. And from what I’ve read, if this is the case, increasing methylation will ultimately worsen things rather than improve them. (And it’s true, everything does seem inflamed) Even B6/P-5-P is said to be an “Ammonia Provoker”, something I ought to limit. Today I took a bit more because it seems to really help with sleep, not to mention oxalates!
Should I be experimenting with the low sulphur diet? (which will be quite limiting as I’m already on the low oxalate/low carb)
What’s important here? As so often happens, the more I read, the more confused I get. And this dull headache I have is definitely not helping.
Thanks for any suggestions…