Methylation

Imagine someone starts noticing strange, seemingly unrelated symptoms. After a glass of wine — a sudden hot flush, nasal congestion, and a feeling of an oncoming cold. A bit of aged cheese — itching, heaviness in the stomach, bloating. After eating strawberries — a rash that disappears without a trace in a couple of hours.

In the morning — a dull headache “out of nowhere.” Throughout the day — bouts of irritability and anxiety. In the evening — insomnia and restless sleep. Sometimes after eating — a wave of fatigue so strong it feels like the body is “shutting down.” During stress or certain phases of the hormonal cycle — abdominal pain intensifies, dark thoughts appear, only to be suddenly replaced by a burst of energy and hyperactivity.

Today, we live in a world surrounded by synthetic chemicals — in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the cosmetics we use, the packaging we touch, and the cleaning products we rely on. These substances include solvents, plasticizers, preservatives, and by-products of industrial processes. Even if we don’t notice them directly, our contact with them is constant and often invisible. For example, if you leave a plastic water bottle in the sun, you’re likely drinking water that now contains microplastics.

In recent years, research in genetics and epigenetics has garnered increasing attention, opening new horizons for understanding health and chronic diseases. Genetics studies hereditary traits and variations in DNA structure, while epigenetics examines changes in gene activity that do not alter the DNA sequence itself. One of the key aspects of epigenetics is that these changes can be reversible. This opens up new opportunities for developing treatments for diseases where changes in gene expression play a crucial role, such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, or metabolic disorders. Moreover, epigenetic modifications can be passed from parents to offspring, influencing the health of future generations. Understanding the mechanism of epigenetic regulation presents new prospects in medicine, particularly concerning the impact of the environment, nutrition, and lifestyle on health.

Methylation is a crucial biochemical process occurring in all cells of the body. It involves adding a methyl group (CH₃) to molecules such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, significantly influencing their functions and activities. Methylation regulates various physiological mechanisms, including gene expression, detoxification, mood regulation, energy production, immune system function, and cellular maintenance. Particularly important is the role of methylation in the liver, where it helps neutralize and eliminate toxins, which is essential for overall health.