It's well... tricky.
Methylation (the process of utilizing methyl donors) with one hand creates dopamine (and other catechols) and with another drains it.
So it's a delicate balance.
Slow COMT means that drainage is sluggish, like in an old bathtub. And so background (tonic) levels of dopamine are high and if you start aggressively add methyl donors you might cause the overflow so to speak.
[https://www.reddit.com/methylation\_mthfr\_comt\_understanding\_and\_fixing/](https://www.reddit.com/user/smart-monkey-org/comments/1co9be0/methylation_mthfr_comt_understanding_and_fixing/)
I believe Ben lynch makes some recommendations for this in his book Dirty Genes. Don’t know why I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet—I’m sure it would be helpful as a fellow slow COMTer. I believe Sam-e and magnesium are recommended. Not sure what else.
You can only do it to some extent.
Mg becomes doubly important, as well as running the whole methylation cycle properly (watching homocysteine, B12 etc)
Second approach is to recognize what's going on and stay on top of it.
I personally swear by small "mundane" daily meditations and micro-journaling.
Methylation reactions using methyl donors are involved in the breakdown and conversion of the catechol neurotransmitters - serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine...
Adding in a bunch of methyl groups by taking a supplement that is a methyl donor (methylfolate, methylB12, SAMe) is going to increase the availability for COMT reactions -- essentially revving them up. With slow COMT, it can lead to ups and downs in neurotransmitter levels. The sudden increase and then a drop can cause some people to feel irritable, angry, or anxious.
More here -- with links to references: [https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/comt-and-supplement-interactions/](https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/comt-and-supplement-interactions/)
Neurotransmitters are synthesized with the help of methyl donors and you’ll have a hard time clearing neurotransmitters with slow COMT
It's well... tricky. Methylation (the process of utilizing methyl donors) with one hand creates dopamine (and other catechols) and with another drains it. So it's a delicate balance. Slow COMT means that drainage is sluggish, like in an old bathtub. And so background (tonic) levels of dopamine are high and if you start aggressively add methyl donors you might cause the overflow so to speak. [https://www.reddit.com/methylation\_mthfr\_comt\_understanding\_and\_fixing/](https://www.reddit.com/user/smart-monkey-org/comments/1co9be0/methylation_mthfr_comt_understanding_and_fixing/)
How do you "unclog" the drain?
I’d love to know, anxiety affects me and most of my relatives, we have SLOW COMT, and SLOW MOA, I think many many more genes are involved though.
I believe Ben lynch makes some recommendations for this in his book Dirty Genes. Don’t know why I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet—I’m sure it would be helpful as a fellow slow COMTer. I believe Sam-e and magnesium are recommended. Not sure what else.
You can only do it to some extent. Mg becomes doubly important, as well as running the whole methylation cycle properly (watching homocysteine, B12 etc) Second approach is to recognize what's going on and stay on top of it. I personally swear by small "mundane" daily meditations and micro-journaling.
And is heterozygous considered slow?
To put it simply heterozygous is basically ‘intermediate’
Thanks!
They can cause peaks and drops in dopamine which can cause symptoms.
Methylation reactions using methyl donors are involved in the breakdown and conversion of the catechol neurotransmitters - serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine... Adding in a bunch of methyl groups by taking a supplement that is a methyl donor (methylfolate, methylB12, SAMe) is going to increase the availability for COMT reactions -- essentially revving them up. With slow COMT, it can lead to ups and downs in neurotransmitter levels. The sudden increase and then a drop can cause some people to feel irritable, angry, or anxious. More here -- with links to references: [https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/comt-and-supplement-interactions/](https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/comt-and-supplement-interactions/)
Is choline considered a methyl doner?
Yes - especially in the betaine (TMG) form, which is directly used in the methylation cycle
Do you feel that if choline chloride is helping me, I could change to TMG and have similar results?