Methyl Support
Methyl Support is packed with a full complement of highly bioavailable (absorbable) nutrients that have been known to support a healthy methylation process throughout the body. Methylation describes the natural process in which various methyl groups, which consist of a single carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms, move through the body and attach themselves to other molecules in need. A healthy methylation process has been recognized for its ability to promote optimal whole body health by helping the body produce a wide range of substances that contribute to overall function and wellness, including proteins, immune cells, hormones, cellular membranes, DNA/RNA, enzymes and neurotransmitters. The body also needs the process of methylation in order to break down homocysteine, a specific type of amino acid that can be harmful to whole body health if it is allowed to accumulate throughout the body.
The Ingredients
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
Vitamin B9 is so critical to the methylation process that the process is often referred to as the folate cycle. In fact, the body would not be able to carry out the methylation process without this essential vitamin. Aside from being a requirement of the folate cycle, vitamin B9 has been recognized for its ability to support healthy cellular development, cellular function and red blood cell production.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
This essential vitamin is also required by the body for over 100 enzymatic reactions as well as the production of glutathione, an amino-acid-based organic chemical compound with powerful antioxidant properties. Glutathione itself has been recognized for supporting optimal brain and nervous system function with its ability to promote a healthy oxidative response.
Trimethylglycine (TMG)
TMG is an organic chemical compound found naturally in the body that is critical to the folate cycle. Not only does TMG help donate methyl groups as part of the folate cycle, but it has also been recognized for its ability to support healthy liver function throughout the methylation process. Like vitamin B12, TMG helps the body reduce levels of homocysteine through the production of a specific organic chemical: dimethylglycine (DMG) in this case. TMG is also known to support healthy mood regulation by helping the body produce S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe).
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B2 is known to support healthy methylation by helping the body utilize vitamin B6, vitamin B9 and other B vitamins more effectively. Not only can vitamin B2 promote optimal methylation with these traits, but it has been recognized for its ability to support healthy energy and red blood cell production as well. Vitamin B2 has also been known to support the proper metabolism of various medications, fats and steroids.
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)
Vitamin B12 is needed by the body for red blood cell production and DNA synthesis. This essential vitamin is also a required substance in the metabolism of homocysteine. Without vitamin B12, the body would not be able to produce methionine synthase, which is the substance that helps the body break homocysteine down into methionine before being allowed to accumulate to harmful levels.
The Science
Inside the human body, a vast network of chemicals, molecules and organs are constantly active in supporting the countless processes that influence whole body health on a daily basis. One of the processes, methylation, has become known for being a critical component of overall function. The methylation process revolves around the activity of methyl groups, which consist of three hydrogen atoms and a single carbon atom. As methyl groups pass through the body, they will be donated to other molecules in need of these atoms. As a result of this activity, methylation has shown the potential to support both the production and function of a range of substances that are critical to overall wellness, including hormones, neurotransmitters, proteins, enzymes, cellular membranes, DNA/RNA and immune cells. To support proper methylation, the body relies on a variety of nutrients and other substances. Since the methylation cannot happen without the presence of vitamin B9 (folate), this process is often referred to as the folate cycle. Yet, there is a wide range of other nutrients that have been recognized for being able to support a healthy folate cycle. Today, the nutraceutical industry offers a wealth of products that have been expertly developed to provide the body with a robust profile of nutrients that have the shared ability to promote optimal whole body health through proper methylation.
The folate cycle describes the process where a specific nutrient, such as methyl folate or methyl-B12, donates a methyl group to another molecule. Methylation occurs throughout the body, so any issues or decrease in function with this process can potentially lead to negative impacts for whole body health. The folate cycle is a crucial component of the body’s natural detoxification process as well as DNA/RNA expression. When the folate cycle does not function properly, the body could find itself at an increased risk of experiencing chronic illness and other negative conditions.
A healthy folate cycle is also a critical component of overall wellness due to its ability to help the body break down an amino acid known as homocysteine. While amino acids are often helpful and necessary components of maintaining optimal whole body health, homocysteine can actually be harmful if it is allowed to accumulate in the bloodstream. In particular, the accumulation of homocysteine has been known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease if not addressed properly. Fortunately, three B vitamins that are known to support healthy methylation have also been recognized for their ability to support the proper metabolism of homocysteine: vitamins B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folate) and B12 methylcobalamin. Not only do these vitamins work together to influence healthy levels of homocysteine, but vitamin B12 can also independently support proper methylation by helping the body produce methionine synthase. This enzyme is known for its ability to metabolize homocysteine into methionine.
While the folate cycle is named for one of its required ingredients, this process still relies on other B vitamins in order to function properly. Like folate, vitamin B6 is a required ingredient of the methylation process. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) actually helps the body utilize B vitamins more effectively throughout the folate cycle and other various processes.
Professional grade nutraceutical products like Methyl Support have been expertly developed to support optimal whole body health through healthy methyl group function. Methyl Support contains highly bioavailable forms of vitamins B2, B6, B9 and B12 to promote a healthy and consistent folate cycle. This product is also packed with an organic chemical compound known as trimethylglycine (TMG), which has been recognized for its ability to help molecules donate methyl groups throughout the body. TMG has shown a particular ability to target methyl groups that are located in the liver, allowing it to potentially support optimal liver function. This compound also provides support for regulating healthy levels of homocysteine by helping the body produce another organic chemical compound known as dimethylglycine (DMG).