Glycine and Glutathione

[hb8847]

I am wondering if Glycine might be a useful supplement for enabling methylation and minimising side effects.

Does anyone have experiencing of using it in such a case?

I came across this on Chris Masterjohn's website. He advocates using Glycine rather than Niacin to soak up methyl groups, because Niacin is acting "like a drug" in that it will use up all the available methyl groups and then will be excreted, rather than Glycine which is actually being used by the body once methylated. Is this correct?

I am considering this because I'm currency going through the process of healing via using methyl supplements. It is working, albeit gradually. I'm generally following Ben Lynch's site's advice as it's given me the best results so far. Specifically:

- Previously I was taking sublingual methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. This seemed to be helping however every time I ate any food it would give me brain fog which would wipe out any productivity for the rest of the day.

- Eventually I figured out how to stop this - by taking his "Optimal Start" supplements containing all the non-methyl B vitamins as well as other cofactors (vitamin A, E, CoQ10 etc).

- I've since been taking these on their own for the past month or so and it seems to be helping. I already appear to be overmethylating (lots of side effects including anxiety, irritability, headaches, bloating) so at the same time I stopped the B12 and Folate altogether with the aim of adding them back in once symptoms have calmed down.

- Gradually I seem to be recovering. But the path is far from smooth. Every few days I seem to experience a heavy tiredness shortly after eating, particularly meat (which I suspect is the methionine in the food furthering methylation). Reducing meat doesn't seem to help matters either; it tends to make me feel considerably more achey the following day.

- Following Ben Lynch's site I have tried supplementing with glutathione at small doses. This does seem to help initially, particularly with my mental clarity and energy, and causes me to suspect part of my persistent ill health is being caused by the cell damage which glutathione prevents.

- The problem with glutathione is it quickly pushes me over the edge into what appears to be overmethylating. (Ben Lynch does recommend taking this at low doses but doesnt explain why - does anyone know the mechanism for why excess glutathione can make you feel worse even if it's helping?) I have tried pulsing it or taking lower doses, however I find this difficult to get the right amount.

- Could glycine here be an alternative solution? The idea is it would create glutathione itself and in the process use up some of the methyl groups and the cysteine, ie it would be enabling methylation to do its exact purpose. It seems too obvious to me, what am I missing? Why has Ben Lynch not suggested this rather than going straight for the glutathione?

(For reference I am also taking electrolytes, Niacin depending on symptoms and both seem to help. I have also tried adding Creatine and Ribose as per his 'electrolyte mixture' but I've found these too quickly push me into overmethylating so I'm leaving these for the time being. I occasionally also supplement with P-Choline. Finally I am thinking of adding some Adrenal supplements.)

 

[xploit316]

I havnt experimented with Glycine, but like you Methylfolate and B12 messed me up (Irritability, Anger, Depression, Suicidal thoughts) real bad so I believe its not for us overmethylators. What has helped me with inflammation and food intolerances though recently is Betaine HCL (with Pepsin) and Wobenzym (Pancreatic enzymes). However carbohydrates is still a problem as it causes major bloating (fructose and starch).

 

[Wilma]

I didn't try the things you did, but i had all the side effects you describe. I found out that the headache is shortage of magnesium and that it get's better by taking a zinc supplement. But it is difficult to keep a balance. I feel much better if i eat healthy. Instead of meat i eat fish. I try to eat not to much saturated fats and use almost no sugar. And for me it is important to eat fish for the vitamin a and e. Vitamin c is also important for me. I tried it with supplements, but it doesn't always work.
I only use supplements if i'am feeling really terrible. Every week i feel better now, if i take enough rest.

 

[Learner1]

Ideally, you want your body to maje glutathione, rather than taking it. You need Glycine, NAC, and glutamine.. Most people advise to take NAC, but some people need glutamine or glycine. You also need adequate B6. Glycine can be helpful especially with SHMT2 SNPs. I take it at night before bed.

Methylation and glutathione can mobilize toxins, which can produce brain fog and other unpleasant symptoms- you may need to support transsulfuration with B1 and molybdenum to move the toxins out.

Niacin can stop overmethylation.

A lot of fish have heavy metals, unfortunately. We do need amino acids. If eating meat is a problem, maybe try digestive enzymes 20 min before a meal.

 

[xploit316]

Ideally, you want your body to maje glutathione, rather than taking it. You need Glycine, NAC, and glutamine.. Most people advise to take NAC, but some people need glutamine or glycine. You also need adequate B6. Glycine can be helpful especially with SHMT2 SNPs. I take it at night before bed.

Methylation and glutathione can mobilize toxins, which can produce brain fog and other unpleasant symptoms- you may need to support transsulfuration with B1 and molybdenum to move the toxins out.

Niacin can stop overmethylation.

A lot of fish have heavy metals, unfortunately. We do need amino acids. If eating meat is a problem, maybe try digestive enzymes 20 min before a meal.

How does one know if he/she is an overmethylator?

 

[Learner1]

One can be overmethylated or undermethylated at any given point in time. Ideally you want balance.

https://blog.designsforhealth.com/node/910

 

[xploit316]

Ideally, you want your body to maje glutathione, rather than taking it. You need Glycine, NAC, and glutamine.. Most people advise to take NAC, but some people need glutamine or glycine. You also need adequate B6. Glycine can be helpful especially with SHMT2 SNPs. I take it at night before bed.

Methylation and glutathione can mobilize toxins, which can produce brain fog and other unpleasant symptoms- you may need to support transsulfuration with B1 and molybdenum to move the toxins out.

Niacin can stop overmethylation.

A lot of fish have heavy metals, unfortunately. We do need amino acids. If eating meat is a problem, maybe try digestive enzymes 20 min before a meal.

What would you recommend to help with starch/sugar digestion? I dont do well with methyl donors at all.

 

[Learner1]

You may "not do well with methyl donors at all" because when you add them, you may start to mobilize something toxic, and you dont have the transsulfuration pathway properly supported. Or, you may be hitting sime bottleneck because you aren't supplying all the cofactors necessary, or too much of some and not enough of another. Methylstiin is essential to life - it helps to properly copy DNA, helps your immune systen run, helps in tge productuin if neurotransmitters, etc. And numeroys researchers hsve identified methylation problems in ME/CFS patients.

If you're having a problem with methyl donors, its a sign something is wrong and you dint hsve enough information. Propr testing to identify what's going in is the answer, guessing offers the opportunity to be wrong.

For starch/sugar digestion, you'd want a product with amylase.