Greetings 

from Dr. Sharon R. Price, PhD., CN.

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Currently, the hottest topic of discussion and research in my field of health science and nutrition is methylation.

Seventeen years ago, in the summer of 1998, I read an extensive article in Natural Medicine Journal by Dr. Joseph Pizzorno and Dr. Michael Murray, both Bastyr trained NDs, entitled "Detoxification: A Naturopathic Perspective".  I was fascinated by the enormous responsibility of the liver, including the methylation pathway, and began applying this information in helping my clients reach a new level of health.

This will be the first in a series of articles about why this pathway is so important and what can be done to support it.

What is methylation?

Methylation is one of the many pathways in the liver that helps to detoxify, convert and contribute to a wide range of critical body functions.  Methylation defects may contribute to major chronic conditions such as:

• cardiovascular disease
• cancer
• diabetes
• Alzheimer's disease
• mood and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, bi-polar, schizophrenia, etc.
• addictive behaviors
• seizures
• autoimmune disorders
• premature aging
• infertility, miscarriage and pregnancy issues
• autism and other neuro-spectrum disorders
• Lyme disease
• and the list goes on...

Improper methylation can be identified through functional genetic testing, which we are excited to be able to offer.  European health care has been providing these tests for many years and have found that as many as 50% of the Europeans have genetic defects (polymorphisms) in this pathway. 

The key function of these genes provides coding for the enzyme that coverts folic acid to its active form, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF).  So, in effect the enzyme is missing and causes huge problems with detoxification causing or complicating the above chronic conditions.

I recall about five years ago speaking about this issue to a women's group in Southlake.  At that time, the only way I knew of identifying the health of this methylation pathway was by doing the blood test for homocysteine.  While I continue to check homocysteine levels, I am so excited that we can do the genetic testing, as well.  And, just as exciting, is that if these tests come back positive for you, we know what to do.

I will discuss more about this exciting new, cutting edge research in upcoming eNewsletters!  In the meantime, don't wait, call Nutritional Direction 817-283-4424 and ask for the MTHFR & COMT gene test.  More on COMT in future eNewsletters.

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"So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."  Isaiah 55:11

I rest on this and all of God's promises to His children.