Statics are that about 22% of the population are Undermethylated and about 8% are Overmethylated.

What is Methylation?
Methylation is a process by which a gene's behavior is altered, but the gene itself isn't changed. It requires Vitamin B12 and folic acid to convert nutrients from food to energy. If the process is blocked, through stress, viruses, toxins, etc., then glutathione cannot be created. Glutathione detoxifies the body, among other body processes.

Note: The only way to accurately measure and be of methylation status is with metabolic urine and lood testing. Genetic testing for MTHFR or other SNP's will not show the actual level of methylation in the body.

Download the Diagram of the Simplified Methylation Circle

Walsh Institute Diagram

Undermethylation Symptoms and Tendencies - high histamine, Whole Blood Histamine blood test results above 70
Low levels of neurotransmitters: serotonin and dopamine

• Very strong willed, stubborn

• History of competitiveness in sports

• Obsessive/compulsive tendencies

• History of perfectionism

• Ritualistic behaviors

• Seasonal inhalant and other environmental allergies (75% have this)

• Low tolerance for pain

• Frequent headaches

• Allergic reactions like hives and to mosquito bites

• Addictive tendencies (can be addicted very quickly as adult to alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, etc.)

• Delusions (thought disorders)

• High libido - high sex drive (teens and adults)

• Family history of high accomplishment (doctor, lawyer, engineer, MBA, professionals, etc.)

• Calm demeanor - but high inner tension

• Absence or sparse body hair

• High fluidity - watery discharge from, tears from eyes and excessive saliva (including spitting) more than average person

• Non-compliance with therapies (adults, often males)

• High blood histamine level in lab test (above 70)

• Low SAMe/SAH ratios in lab test

• Diagnosis of Autism (ASD), Depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), PANDAS / PANS or Schizoaffective Disorder

Overmethylation Symptoms and Tendencies - low histamine, Whole Blood Histamine blood test results below 40
High levels of neurotransmitters: norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine

• High anxiety or panic tendency

• Sleep disorders

• Dry eyes (can't wear contact lenses) and dry mouth, dry mucus membranes

• Estrogen intolerance

• Depression

• Self mutilation (including multiple tattoos, including multiple piercings in teens and adults)

• Nervous legs, pacing

• Obsessions without compulsions

• High energy - hyperactive, bodies have move a lot

• High pain threshold

• Low motivation in school

• Verbosity, loquacity - they talk a lot

• High artistic and/or musical ability, very creative

• Paranoia

• Belief that everyone thinks badly of them

• High empathy for others, very sensitive emotionally

• Non-competitive in sports

• Food and chemical sensitivities

• Absence of seasonal allergies

• Intolerant to anti-histamines

• Low libido (adults)

• More body hair, hairy (hirsutism)

• Adverse reactions to SSRI's, antidepressants, SAMe, Methionine

• Low blood histamine level in lab test (below 40)

• Elevated SAMe/SAH ratios in lab test

• Diagnosis of ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Paranoid Schizophrenia

Undermethylation Issues and Supplements

• Undermethylators tend to produce LOWER levels of the following neurotransmitters: serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, norepinephrine

• Conditions that can be associated with under methylation (but not always) include: low energy, internal anxiety, depression and anorexia.

• Tend to develop excessive levels of folates - this means that levels of folic acid must be monitored carefully.

• Under-methylators will beome more mentally alert when given supplements containing methyl donors.

Overmethylation Issues and Supplements

• Overmethylators ave ELEVATED levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine

• Conditions that can be associated with over-methylation (but not always) are: hyperactivity, outwardly expressed anxiety.  

• Over-methylators tend to become hyper and “stimmy” when they given methyl donors.

Tests to Determine Methylation Status and Related Metabolic Levels - contact us to become a client to order these tests
This Metabolic Panel costs about $296 and includes local blood testing and at home urine testing as follows:

1. Whole blood histamine - blood test used to measure methylation status.
   The functional lab range for under methylation is above 70.
   The functional lab range for  is over methylation is below 40.
   Please read more about methylation.
    

2. Kyrtopyrroles - used to test by urine the amount of pyrroles excreted through urinary quantitative testing.
   This is done to see the level of pyrroles and if there is too rapid excretion of zinc and B6 through urine.
   The functional range for pyrroles is below 10. 
   A level of 16 or higher is pyroluria; 20 or higher is considered very high.
   The level of kryptopyrroles is an overall marker of high oxidative stress.
   Read more about pyroluria.
    

3. Plasma Zinc - used to evaluate zinc deficiency. 
   The functional range for zinc is 90 - 135.
   Although it is very good at picking up major deficiencies it is more insensitive to marginal deficiency because a change in plasma zinc does not occur until zinc intake is extremely low. So a person with 'normal' results may still be deficient.
   Read more about zinc and the zinc taste test
    

4. Serum copper -  used to test to evaluate copper toxicity. 
   This blood test measures the amount of copper in blood.
   Serum copper is used not plasma copper.
   The functional range for copper is 70 - 110.
   Read more about copper toxicity.
    

5. Ceruloplasmin - used to measure the amount of this protein that binds to copper in the body.
   Ceruloplasmin plays an important role as a transporter in copper metabolism.
   Most copper in the blood is bound to ceruloplasmin, some is bound to albumin, MT or other proteins.
   If ceruloplasmin is low, free copper can rise to toxic levels. Unbound copper is toxic to the body.
   The relationship of ceruloplasmin to copper is a percentage.
   Unbound copper is toxic to the body.
   Above 25% is consider high unbound copper.
   Read more about copper toxicity.

Hair Testing Instead of a Blood Panel For Assessing Low Zinc and High Copper

• Hair testing can be done for determining heavy metal burdens but blood testing is considered more accurate for the above testing.

• Hair testing helps to target the heavy metal burdens and mineral levels in the body through hair.

• Read More About Hair Testing for Heavy Metals

• Hair Testing and ADHD

  • Hair mineral copper is very valuable for behavior disorders and ADHD, but is of far less clinical value for autism, bipolar, and schizophrenia populations.
     

• Hair Testing and Copper:

  • Hair analysis ALONE is a very poor way to assess copper status.

  • Findings of high copper levels in hair are compromised by the many external sources of copper which cannot be completely removed by washing.

  • Low levels of copper in hair and/or blood often are coincident with dangerous overloads of copper in liver.

  • Hair copper values can provide information of clinical significance, but by itself is not clinically decisive.
     

• Hair Testing and Zinc:

  • Low hair zinc correlates very well with low plasma levels. 

  • However, very elevated zinc in hair nearly always means a zinc deficiency and loss of plasma zinc levels. 

  • Most of the time this involves a pyrrole disorder which results in very high zinc excretion in urine (and in hair). 

  • In a healthy person without metal-metabolism problem, only about 4 percent of excreted zinc leaves through the kidneys.

Gene Expression Animated Video
(2:21 minutes)
 

Watch a Video on Lab Testing by Dr. Bill Walsh
(1:28 minutes)

About Over-Methylation by Dr. Bill Walsh
(1:43 minutes)

About Under Methylation by Dr. Bill Walsh
(1:22 minutes)