Posted by linkadge on March 13, 2016, at 18:49:10
In reply to Re: methylation hypothesis, posted by Larry Hoover on March 12, 2016, at 14:01:49
Hi Larry,
Thanks for this. I gathered that the whole methylation thing is a bit on the alternative side. You don't hear mainstream science mention methylation too much in psychiatric disorders, but it has been welcomed with open arms by the alternative autism, bipolar, depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorder community.
Mainstream science does, however, acknowledge the antidepressant effects of agents like methylfolate and SAMe.
The other big unknown for me (as I am not a geneticist by any stretch) is the connection between nutritional methylation and gene methylation. Individual genes can become 'hyper methylated' but I don't know whether this has anything to do with an excess or deficiency of methyl donors, or if this has more to do with individual genetic variation / life experiences (or none / all of the above).
Many psychiatric medications are HDAC inhibitors (i.e. imipramine, amitriptyline, citalopram, valproate, lithium), which I understand can lead to de-methylation. This enters epigenetics which is way out of my league. I'll wait for the "for dummies" book.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:1087015
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20160306/msgs/1087114.html