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Just got my Methylation and Detox Profile Results: can the Experts Kindly Provide Commentary Please

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
About 40% of the population has MTHFR mutations. Most people eat bread and cereals with synthetic folic acid added to it and many people also take cheap supplements with folic acid. The folic acid is not well absorbed by those with MTHFR mutations, in addition it will deplete the good kind of folate. In addition it will float around unused and potentially cause cancer.

In addition, we live in a very polluted world which can cause glutathione depletion which is especially a problem for those with MTHFR mutations who are already depleted to start with. There are many health consequences for glutathione depletion.

Now look at the rise of "modern diseases" - cancer, autism, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, etc. etc. These things were almost unheard of 100 years ago (I have verified that with geneological research - most people were dying from strokes, heart attacks or infectious disease).

These things combined make those with MTHFR mutations the "canaries in the coalmine". I've seen methylation results for probably at least 40-50 people with ME/CFS and only one did not have MTHFR (but had other serious methylation cycle mutations).


Caledonia, it's very interesting that all the 40 or 50 ME/CFS patients whose methylation results you saw had MTHFR mutations. Since you say these MTHFR mutations are common in the general population (40% of people have them), you'd expect many ME/CFS patients to have MTHFR mutations; but not all ME/CFS patients.

Your observations tend to indicate a causal connection between MTHFR mutations and ME/CFS.

I wonder if research has been done that links MTHFR mutations to ME/CFS?
 

caledonia

Senior Member
I don't think any formal research has been done yet. I could see this happening soon via 23andme and their partnership with (darn can't ever remember the name) a health site.They have a grant from the NIH which is why they dropped their price through Dec. They hope to get 1 million samples in their database, which will be awesome for research.

My naturopath at one point had said that everyone who walked into his practice had MTHFR mutations. So I guess you can take that for whatever it's worth.
 

Lotus97

Senior Member
Messages
2,041
Location
United States
Good point. I had to take betaine for many years. Now that my digestion is better, I rarely ever need it.

Though I am not sure how methylation is connected to stomach acid?
Betaine HCL is the same thing as TMG. On that note, I just found out there's over 600 mg of TMG in 100 g of quinoa, but maybe a lot of that is lost in cooking.
 

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
Betaine HCL is the same thing as TMG.

Betaine is the same thing as TMG (trimethylglycine), but betaine HCl is a different substance, as it has an additional HCl added, HCl being the hydrochloric acid molecule which boosts stomach hydrochloric acid levels.

Betaine = TMG = C5H11NO2
Betaine HCl = C5H11NO2HCl

This I guess makes betaine HCl a doubly useful supplement for ME/CFS patients with low stomach acid levels, as the HCl part boosts stomach acid, and the betaine part acts as a methyl donor to boost the methylation cycle.
 

Lotus97

Senior Member
Messages
2,041
Location
United States
Betaine is the same thing as TMG (trimethylglycine), but betaine HCl is a different substance, as it has an additional HCl added, HCl being the hydrochloric acid molecule which boosts stomach hydrochloric acid levels.

Betaine = TMG = C5H11NO2
Betaine HCl = C5H11NO2HCl

This I guess makes betaine HCl a doubly useful supplement for ME/CFS patients with low stomach acid levels, as the HCl part boosts stomach acid, and the betaine part acts as a methyl donor to boost the methylation cycle.
I don't understand this chemistry stuff too well. Is there any way to know what the equivalent dosage is between TMG and Betaine HCL as far as being a methyldonor? Since Betaine HCL has extra stuff would that mean that 500 mg of TMG would be stronger than 500 mg of betaine HCL?
 

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
I have just done a quick molecular weight calculation, and it turns out that 76% of the weight of betaine HCl is the betaine component. So if you took 500 mg of betaine HCl, that would give you 76% x 500 mg = 380 mg of betaine.
 

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
Over this last week, I just started to experience significant depression symptoms after beginning a regimen of taking betaine HCl daily with my meals (a total of 1800 mg daily).

This betaine HCl (a hydrochloric acid supplement) did noticeably improve my digestion, so there is no doubt I have low stomach acid, but I think the betaine component of this supplement seems to have caused depression in me, presumably by activating my methylation cycle.

In the past, I have also noticed that SAMe and betaine (= trimethylglycine) supplements — both methyl donors — make me depressed.

So for the moment, I have stopped taking betaine HCl (and my depression quickly cleared).


Can anyone hazard a guess as to whether this depression I experienced from betaine HCl is a temporary Herxheimer reaction as methylation kicks in, or whether this depression has some other cause?

Also, if this depression is due to methylation kicking in, how long might it take before the depression clears? I find depression symptoms like this very hard to bear, and I don't think I go through more than a few days like this.
 

MeSci

ME/CFS since 1995; activity level 6?
Messages
8,231
Location
Cornwall, UK
I just tried the burp test with sodium bicarbonate, and I failed it (no burps at all), so it seems I may have low stomach acid.

I will get some betaine hydrochloride, and try taking the methylation protocol supplements with my meals along with betaine hydrochloride, to see if that makes a difference.

Thanks for that tip, Caledonia.

That is indeed useful - I burp for England (or should that be Cornwall?) when I take bicarb!
 

caledonia

Senior Member
Over this last week, I just started to experience significant depression symptoms after beginning a regimen of taking betaine HCl daily with my meals (a total of 1800 mg daily).

This betaine HCl (a hydrochloric acid supplement) did noticeably improve my digestion, so there is no doubt I have low stomach acid, but I think the betaine component of this supplement seems to have caused depression in me, presumably by activating my methylation cycle.

In the past, I have also noticed that SAMe and betaine (= trimethylglycine) supplements — both methyl donors — make me depressed.

So for the moment, I have stopped taking betaine HCl (and my depression quickly cleared).


Can anyone hazard a guess as to whether this depression I experienced from betaine HCl is a temporary Herxheimer reaction as methylation kicks in, or whether this depression has some other cause?

Also, if this depression is due to methylation kicking in, how long might it take before the depression clears? I find depression symptoms like this very hard to bear, and I don't think I go through more than a few days like this.

In practice, I'm not so sure about betaine hydrochloride = TMG. At least when I tried them, the betaine worked on stomach acid as it was supposed to and didn't give me any energy. The TMG presumably helped the secondary pathway like it's supposed to and has given me a bit of energy.

I have both CBS and BHMT mutations. I was getting anxiety/stress reactions to methyl donors (this is what is predicted if your CBS is expressed). When I overdid TMG, I got a revved up anxious feeling. Some niacin calmed it back down. So everything for me is working as predicted.

Do you have COMT mutations by any chance? Getting too many methyl donors can cause mood swings.
 

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
Do you also get the depression if you take mB12 or mfolate?
The solution is to be careful how many methyl donors you take. If you're having mood problems, it's too much, so you need to lower the dose to something you can tolerate.

No, I am always fine with B12 methylcobalamin, even if I take as much as 30 mg sublingually. I am also fine with methylfolate.

It is just TMG that seems to cause depression (either as pure TMG, or as betaine HCl). The other supplement that causes me to get some mild depression is SAMe (aka: S-adenosyl-L-methionine). I know SAMe is supposed to act as an antidepressant, but for me, it in fact causes some mild depression.
 

Lotus97

Senior Member
Messages
2,041
Location
United States
Over this last week, I just started to experience significant depression symptoms after beginning a regimen of taking betaine HCl daily with my meals (a total of 1800 mg daily).

This betaine HCl (a hydrochloric acid supplement) did noticeably improve my digestion, so there is no doubt I have low stomach acid, but I think the betaine component of this supplement seems to have caused depression in me, presumably by activating my methylation cycle.

In the past, I have also noticed that SAMe and betaine (= trimethylglycine) supplements — both methyl donors — make me depressed.

So for the moment, I have stopped taking betaine HCl (and my depression quickly cleared).


Can anyone hazard a guess as to whether this depression I experienced from betaine HCl is a temporary Herxheimer reaction as methylation kicks in, or whether this depression has some other cause?

Also, if this depression is due to methylation kicking in, how long might it take before the depression clears? I find depression symptoms like this very hard to bear, and I don't think I go through more than a few days like this.
If TMG causes depression in you then it sounds like that's probably the reason for the betaine HCL to cause the same symptoms (although I have no idea why since you say you can tolerate methylfolate and methylcobalamin fine), but it could be from die-off. Starting 4 months ago I've been getting depression from supplements that cause die-off (including probiotics). I also find the depression very difficult to bear. I had my depression pretty much handled with Prozac until a few months ago. As far as betaine hcl causing die-off, I found a few accounts
http://www.remedyspot.com/showthread.php/1011121-Can-Betaine-Hcl-cause-die-off
I have recently added Betaine Hcl to my program as I beleive like many
I fall into the category of low stomach acid. It has helped my skin a
lot already !! I only started taking it 3 days ago and can already
notice the difference (rosacea on my face)

The only thing is I am feeling quite tired and lethargic and my muscle
pain is flaring up again. I was wondering if the hcl could be
contributing to a bit of die-off?
http://curezone.org/forums/am.asp?i=1479233
Im a long term candida sufferer getting progressively worse - removed fillings a year ago to reduce mercury loading, but now turning to the candida which has been made MUCH worse by use of DMSA (dont do it people if you have a high candida load!).

Anyway, suspect poor digestion and hypochloridia as a contributor, so started Beatine (half a 335mg tab each meal). Experiencing crazy die-off with increased rashes and serious sleep distrubance/fatigue - even with this tiny amount.

Has anyone else experienced die-off from HCL use - ive never heard of this? Does this suggest that my candida overgrowth is huge and I am basically producing no stomach acid - so adding even a small amount of hcl is causing a significant ph shift which the yeasty beaties hate?
 

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
I think I may have worked out why TMG, SAM-e and betaine hydrochloride cause me to feel depressed: because these methyl donor supplements increase the alpha interferon response, and interferon can cause depression. Ref: 1.


One theory about how this interferon-induced depression arises is as follows:

• Low serotonin can cause depression or irritability.
• Tryptophan is needed to make serotonin.
• Tryptophan is broken down by the enzyme IDO (indoleamine-2-3-dioxygenase).
• Interferon stimulates the activity of the IDO enzyme, causing increased tryptophan breakdown.
• Hence interferon can cause depression or irritability.

Since interferon gamma is generated when the immune system is in Th1 mode, the use of Th1 boosting supplements may also cause increased tryptophan breakdown, leading to depression or irritability.

And indeed, I find several Th1 boosting supplements tend to cause me to get noticeably depressed, particularly the following Th1 supplements: Epicor (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Astragalus, inosine, beta sitosterol, and transfer factor.

This is very unfortunate, because of course the Th1 mode, and interferon gamma, are part of the body's antiviral response, and are needed to help fight the viruses thought to underpin ME/CFS.


Dr Chia used to use interferon for his enterovirus-associated ME/CFS patients, but stopped doing so because of the bad depression side effects of interferon (and the fact that after the interferon treatment, the patients that gained remission would crash back into ME/CFS some months later, so in fact interferon was not a permanent cure).



Interestingly, in the case of herpes family viruses, this interferon-induced breakdown of tryptophan has an antiviral effect, because herpes family viruses depend on tryptophan for replication.

Although for some reason, only the tryptophan breakdown triggered by interferon gamma has an antiviral effect for herpes family viruses; but the tryptophan breakdown triggered by interferon alpha or interferon beta does not seem to result in an antiviral effect against herpes family viruses. So the antiviral effects of interferon alpha and interferon beta against herpes family viruses come from mechanisms other than tryptophan breakdown. Refs: 1, 2.
 
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Lotus97

Senior Member
Messages
2,041
Location
United States
I think I may have worked out why TMG and SAMe cause me to feel depressed: because both of these supplements increase the alpha interferon response, and interferon can cause depression. Ref: 1.


The way this interferon-induced depression arises is as follows:

• Low serotonin can cause depression or irritability.
• Tryptophan is needed to make serotonin.
• Tryptophan is broken down by the enzyme IDO (indoleamine-2-3-dioxygenase).
• Interferon stimulates the activity of the IDO enzyme, causing increased tryptophan breakdown.
• Hence interferon can cause depression or irritability.

Since interferon gamma is generated when the immune system is in Th1 mode, the use of Th1 boosting supplements may also cause increased tryptophan breakdown, leading to depression or irritability.

And indeed, I find several Th1 boosting supplements tend to cause me to get noticeably depressed, particularly the following Th1 supplements: Epicor (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), Astragalus, inosine, beta sitosterol, and transfer factor.

This is very unfortunate, because of course the Th1 mode, and interferon gamma, are part of the body's antiviral response, and are needed to help fight the viruses thought to underpin ME/CFS.


Dr Chia used to use interferon for his enterovirus-associated ME/CFS patients, but stopped doing so because of the bad depression side effects of interferon (and the fact that after the interferon treatment, the patients that gained remission would crash back into ME/CFS some months later, so in fact interferon was not a permanent cure).



Interestingly, in the case of herpes family viruses, this interferon-induced breakdown of tryptophan has an antiviral effect, because herpes family viruses depend on tryptophan for replication.

Although for some reason, only the tryptophan breakdown triggered by interferon gamma has an antiviral effect for herpes family viruses; but the tryptophan breakdown triggered by interferon alpha or interferon beta does not seem to result in an antiviral effect against herpes family viruses. So the antiviral effects of interferon alpha and interferon beta against herpes family viruses come from mechanisms other than tryptophan breakdown. Refs: 1, 2.
I have a question about this and then some comments. You said you've taken methylfolate and high doses of methylcobalamin without a problem. So what's the difference between the SAMe produced through methylation and SAMe from TMG?

I've traced my recent depression over the past 4 months to inflammatory cytokines. I'm trying to fit all the pieces together and this information seems to help. I believe that my Lyme infection has reactivated due to my relapse and/or Lyme being part of the cause of my relapse (chicken vs. eggo_O). Anyway, Lyme can cause the Th1 immune system to become overactive. I also happened to be taking a lot of immune system supplements. Some of which can shift from Th2 to Th1 and/or stimulate Th1 responses.

I think there's more to building a healthy immune response than just stimulating Th1 and/or shifting from Th2 to Th1. With Lyme, the illness suppresses certain aspects of the Th1 system so that an activated Th1 response isn't necessarily effective. In general, with viruses and infections associated CFS/ME Rich talked about how glutathione depletion can cause natural killer cells and CD8 cytoxic T lymphocytes (both associated with Th1 responses) to be unable to function properly.
http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...lls-perforin-and-glutathione-depletion.17603/
Natural killer cells normally kill cells that are infected with viruses. They do this by secreting a substance called perforin, which makes a hole in the cell membrane, and then injecting granzymes, which induce the cell to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death). The CD8 cytotoxic T cells operate in the same way in terms of their killing mechanism.

Some years ago, Dr. Kevin Maher, who was in Dr. Nancy Klimas's group, reported that the natural killer cells in PWMEs are low in perforin. It was also found that the CD8 cytoxic T lymphocytes were also low in perforin. This would, of course, inhibit their cytotoxic activity.

I suggest that this new result is consistent with the mechanism I have proposed for low perforin in ME/CFS. It indicates that the NK cells and CD8 cells are "trying hard" to produce perforin by boosting the transcription of the PRF1 gene to messenger RNA, but the protein synthesis process is at least partially blocked and cannot respond. If glutathione is somewhat depleted in the NK cells and CD8 cells, the protein synthesis process would indeed be partially blocked.

I continue to propose, as I did in 2007, that other features of the observed immune dysfunction in ME/CFS can also be explained by the GD-MCB hypothesis. These include the shift to Th2 immune response, the elevated RNase-L and formation of the low-molecular-weight RNase-L, the elevated inflammation, the failure of lymphocytes to proliferate when stimulated with mitogens, the reactivation of viruses and intracellular bacteria, and the accumulation of pathogens over time.

Best regards,

Rich
 

Hip

Senior Member
Messages
17,824
So what's the difference between the SAMe produced through methylation and SAMe from TMG?

Did you mean to say: "So what's the difference between the SAMe produced through methylation and SAMe from a supplement?" If so, I don't know for sure, but possibly supplemental SAMe will raise your SAMe levels higher than the levels achieved through the methylation cycle.

I also happened to be taking a lot of immune system supplements. Some of which can shift from Th2 to Th1 and/or stimulate Th1 responses.

You might consider cutting out the Th2 to Th1 shifting supplements for two or three days, and if your depression lifts, then it indicates these supplements were the cause of your depression. I have found that Th2 to Th1 shifting supplements cause me to have depression literally just a few hours after taking them; but equally, this depression will go away by the next day if I stop these supplements.

I think there's more to building a healthy immune response than just stimulating Th1 and/or shifting from Th2 to Th1.

Certainly. The immune system has hundreds of facets.

I find it interesting that coxsackievirus B, when it infects cells, down-regulates the expression of certain proteins on the cell surface, making CVB-infected cells invisible to CD8 T cells (ref: 1). So even boosting or modulating immune system, you are still going to find it hard to target these infected cells, that are invisible to the immune system.
 

Lotus97

Senior Member
Messages
2,041
Location
United States
Did you mean to say: "So what's the difference between the SAMe produced through methylation and SAMe from a supplement?" If so, I don't know for sure, but possibly supplemental SAMe will raise your SAMe levels higher than the levels achieved through the methylation cycle.
I was just referring to SAMe produced from TMG/betaine HCL (and not taking SAMe directly) vs. SAMe from methylation. Based on your experience, it sounds like there is a difference between SAMe produced through methylation and SAMe produced from TMG and betaine HCL. And also that there are similarities between supplemental SAMe and SAMe produced from TMG/betaine HCL. I suppose we'd need more information to come to any conclusion. I also wonder if supplementing with methionine would cause the same issues since that's also converted to SAMe.
 

Lotus97

Senior Member
Messages
2,041
Location
United States
In that thread I linked to, there's a discussion about interferon (mostly on page 2 of the thread). Interesting what he said about cold and flus. I don't think I've had the flu or a cold in over 15 years. Maybe just coincidence, but maybe not.
So first, how does the immune system normally respond to viral infections? There are basically four types of responses, listed here in roughly the chronological order in which they normally occur:

1. Type I interferon (interferons alpha and beta) responses
2. Natural killer cell response
3. Virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CD-8 "killer" T cell) response.
4. Antibody response

Type I interferons are secreted by infected cells, to alert nearby cells, and hopefully prevent them from becoming infected. The Interferon responses include the PKR, the 2,5-OAS RNase-L, and the Mx responses, among others. The PKR response inhibits the synthesis of viral proteins inside host cells. The 2,5-OAS RNase-L response degrades viral RNA inside host cells. The Mx response inhibits viral gene expression and assembly of the virions inside host cells.

The natural killer cells recognize virally infected cells in which the viruses are attempting to hide from the immune system by shutting off the Class I HLA mechanism that the CD-8 cells use to recognize virally infected cells. If the Class I HLA molecules are not displayed on the cell surface, the NK cell kills the cell.

The CD-8 killer T cells kill cells that are displaying viral antigens by means of the Class I HLA molecules.

Antibodies against viral antigens are made by B lymphocytes and plasma cells, and they bind to viruses that are outside the host cells, as when an infection is beginning or when viruses are spreading from one host cell to another.
This neutralizes the viruses, so that they cannot enter new host cells, and it can also "mark" them for attack by other cells of the immune system, such as macrophages.


O.K., now what happens to these responses in ME/CFS?

Well, the Type I interferon responses continue to work, and even though they are intended to be short term responses to hold back the viral infection until the "cavalry" in the form of the CD-8 killer cells arrives, and the CD-8 cells, together with the NK cells, knock out the viral infection, in ME/CFS the interferon responses continue to work overtime (and even become dysregulated in the case of the RNase-L) because the CD-8 killer cells are not able to take over. Sadly, the "cavalry" never arrives, leaving the "civilians" to battle the "Indians" in an ongoing guerrilla war.
What causes the formation of the dysregulated low-molecular-weight RNase-L molecules? I propose that glutathione depletion is responsible. It activates calpain, and calpain cleaves the normal RNase-L molecules. The cleaved parts join together, forming the unregulated LMW RNase-L.

Both the NK cells and the CD-8 killer T cells are rendered impotent by their inability to make perforin and granzymes in normal amounts. Furthermore, the CD-8 killer T cells are not able to multiply to outnumber the "bad guys" as they should. Why does this happen? I propose that it is a result of glutathione depletion and depletion of folates, respectively, which are part of the GD-MCB vicious circle mechanism that I believe is at the basis of the pathogenesis of ME/CFS.

Antibody production continues, and in fact may be increased, because of the shift toward the Th2 immune response in ME/CFS, which favors humoral immunity, i.e. the production of antibodies by B lymphocytes and plasma cells. What causes this shift? Again, I have proposed that glutathione depletion is responsible, in this case in the "naive" T cells.

So what we have are heightened interferon and antibody responses, but failure of the main "kill" mechanisms. The result is that latent viruses in the body (such as EBV, CMV and HHV6) are able to reactivate, and the immune system continues to fight with the weapons it has left, confining the viruses and keeping the host alive, but not winning the war against the viruses by completely knocking them out or putting them back into latency.

Now, what about your questions?

Would interferon treatment work? Well, to some degree, but without the other dysfunctional immune responses to help them, they cannot completely knock out the viruses.

Why don't PWMEs get colds and flus? I think it's because of the constantly elevated interferon responses. This produces what has been called the "antiviral state." With this going on, it's difficult for a newly introduced virus to get a foothold.

Does this have anything to do with the elevated cytokines in ME/CFS? Yes. The immune system is well aware that there are enemies inside the perimeter, and it is sounding the alarm, trying to organize the defense. The cells of the immune system are sending chemical messages back and forth to each other in the form of cytokines. However, because the NK cells and the CD-8 cells are impotent, even though the trumpet sounds, they don't respond, because they are not able to, so the messages just keep flying back and forth, unheeded.

So what's the solution to this problem? How do we win the war? Well, I'm still working on that, but I think that a big part of it will be to restore glutathione, folates and methylation, and that will probably require a methylation protocol.
Beyond that, because viruses that are well-entrenched have various ways of foiling the immune system, even though the immune system is restored, other measures will likely also be needed. One interesting one is GcMAF, which overcomes one of the strategies used by viruses to foil the immune system, i.e. nagalase. Antivirals are another possibility, especially in view of some success using them, as in Dr. Lerner's experience.

I hope this is helpful.

Best regards,

Rich