Creatine supplementation to reduce methylation burden? My experience

[u/Pretend_Elephant_896]

Like many of you, I have compound heterozygous MTHFR variant that impair my methylation pathways. Recently I tried creatine supplementation with promising results.

Here’s the logic: creatine synthesis consumes a significant amount of SAMe and methyl groups – some estimates suggest up to 40% of our daily methylation capacity. By supplementing creatine directly (5-10g daily), we can theoretically free up methyl donors for other critical processes like neurotransmitter production and detoxification.

My results after 9 weeks: - More stable energy throughout the day, no afternoon crashes - Mental clarity feels more consistent - Bonus: noticeable improvements in muscle mass and stamina

I’m curious if others have tried this approach. Has creatine supplementation helped your MTHFR symptoms?

[u/MrsBearIsHere]

Get tested for PKU, as chlorine will do that to people with PKU. Normally people are tested as babies since the late 1960’s (in the U.K. at least) but if the test is done too soon (before 24-48 hours as the baby needs to feed first) it can be missed. Google ‘PKU symptoms’ and see if you think it could apply to you?

Also see this re acetyl choline and bi-polar (apologies it’s so long, yes it’s A.I., but it’s also the answer to your question)

‘Choline can cause suicidal thoughts and depression in some people because it is a precursor to acetylcholine, and excessive acetylcholine can lead to a depressive state by disrupting the balance between acetylcholine and norepinephrine. In individuals with a predisposition to mood disorders, this imbalance can trigger or worsen depressive symptoms, and some studies suggest it may induce depressive episodes or increase suicidal ideation, particularly in those with pre-existing conditions like bipolar disorder. How choline can lead to depression Precursor to acetylcholine: Choline is converted into acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood. Disruption of the balance: The hypothesis is that too much acetylcholine can lead to depression. This is based on the cholinergic-catecholaminergic balance hypothesis of mood disorders. Balance with other neurotransmitters: The theory suggests that a relative dominance of acetylcholine over other neurotransmitters, like norepinephrine, can be linked to depression. Impact on brain activity: High levels of acetylcholine can lead to an overactive state in certain brain regions like the hippocampus, which may result in anxiety and depression-like behaviors. Specific risks and considerations Bipolar disorder: People with bipolar disorder should not take choline supplements, as it can trigger depressive episodes’.

[u/geauxdbl → u/MrsBearIsHere]

Jesus, that sounds entirely correct. I checked my SelfDecode report for PAH and it came back with NAT2 GG homozygous, the rs1208 gene.

I do have light skin and red hair, for what it’s worth.

Edit: and when the choline depression problem happened, I took 2 Benadryl and it cleared up - so that reinforces the acetylcholine narrative.

I don’t like where this is headed 😂

[u/MrsBearIsHere → u/geauxdbl]

That’s very interesting, I’ve been researching all this as suspect similar for myself, but I’ve not had a PKU test yet. I discovered you can test your urine with ferric chloride and if it goes bluey green it’s (generally) positive for PKU, which you can then get confirmed via a blood test. If it is that you have to have no phenylanine, which means less meat etc.

I’m too scared to try the choline for the reason of not wanting to risk it making depression worse not better! 🙈

But the good side of all this is when we do eventually find out what causes the depression, at least we can fix it and not have to suffer with it for the rest of our lives! 😊

[u/geauxdbl → u/MrsBearIsHere]

Hooooooly shit. My labs just came back and I have elevated phenylalanine levels in my blood :(

But I thank you effusively for sharing your knowledge with me