Continuing to have some really profound results on the methylation stack. Virtually zero POIS symptoms or food sensitivity symptoms.
In the past I spoke about the
glycine buffer system, which would prevent over-methylation from excess SAM-e. When taking methyl donors of any kind, you are bound to take in more than what you currently need. If your buffer system isn't working, you will get a slew of over-methylation symptoms, which will actually trigger POIS symptoms. When your buffer system is working, your body will buffer the excess, prevent you from over-methylating, and store the excess for later retrieval when it needs it. So, after attempting supplementation of Vitamin A and glycine (two nutrients needed for the buffer system), I felt worse. It actually inhibited the SAM-e from working and I couldn't understand why.
It wasn't until I increased my folate supplementation that things actually begun working very smoothly. So in hindsight I actually believe I was deficient or very low in folate.
Folate actually acts as the off-switch for the methyl-buffer system, which would explain why glycine and vitamin A inhibited the SAM-e from working, as there was not enough folate to turn the system off when it no longer needed to buffer methyl groups.
POIS inflammation depletes methyl groups.
POIS mental symptoms are a result of depleted neurotransmitters, from depleted levels of SAMe.
SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-methionine) is required for the brain to synthesize the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. SAMe is a universal methyl group donor. In addition to SAM-e, methyl B12, methylfolate (if tolerated), choline, and TMG (trimethylglycine) are all methyl donors, and should help to replace lost methyl groups from POIS, and thus help to fix POIS mental symptoms.
The catch is that you are working within a complex system which depends on many other nutrients to work properly. You also have different subtypes of nutrient supplementation (there are 3 main types of folate for example - folic acid, folinic acid, and methylfolate). For each nutrient, you must find the type and dosage that works well for you. Because we're all different, the chances are our methylation stacks will be slightly different. They need to be
personalised.
With that being said, I would suggest all POIS sufferers to play around with the following supplements, which make up the methylation stack. You need to listen to your body, see what subtype of nutrients it likes, and at what dosages. As mentioned earlier, specific nutrients rely on adequate status of other nutrients to function properly. So it's possible that when you initially introduce certain supplements (SAM-e) for example, you may experience side-effects until you adequately satisfy it's co-factors.
Methylation Stack:1. Important Methyl Cycle Nutrients: B12, Folate, B6, & Choline
2. Methyl Buffer System Nutrients: Glycine, Vitamin A, & Folate (which would be covered in step 1)
3. Extra Methylation Support for POIS: SAM-e, TMG, & Creatine
+ Vitamin D3 & K2. Immune issues always deplete D3, which is why many here improve when levels are optimal. Adequate K2 prevents D3 calcification side-effects. Vitamin A also gets depleted from immune problems. Another reason to supplement or at least ensure you have adequate amounts of it. Every immune event taxes both Vitamin A and Vitamin D. Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin E and K2, all support fat-soluble vitamins. You must take fat-soluble vitamins with a fatty meal for absorption. You can learn more about this from Chris Masterjohn's website, specifically "Nutrition and Immunity Masterclass: Vitamins and Minerals in Immunity"
You may also not need to supplement everything listed here. For example, you may already have adequate vitamin A status, or TMG makes you feel funny while your body likes SAMe and other methyl donors. Choline is more important when you have low B12 and/or folate. SAM-e requires adequate folate and B12 levels, so if your body feels good after having choline, this may be a sign that you have low B12 and/or folate.
Methylation & Herpes Induced POIS:Methyl-groups act as the off-switch for herpes virus.Note: None of this constitutes as medical advice. I am not a doctor. Consult your medical specialists for medical advise. I am just sharing information from what I have learnt mostly from Chris Masterjohn Phd, which has worked very well for me in my direct experience.