The methylation cycle is an essential pathway for producing methyl groups, which are used by the body in a billion reactions. One role of methylation is to metabolize homocysteine, which is an amino acid that is a risk factor for heart disease.
This article explains the role of BHMT in the methylation cycle and how genetic variants can impact your need for certain nutrients. Members will see their genotype report below, plus additional solutions in the Lifehacks section. Consider joining today.
What does the BHMT enzyme do?
BHMT (betaine homocysteine S-methyltransferase) helps cells to convert homocysteine into methionine. It is an enzyme found mainly in the liver.
- Homocysteine production happens in the methylation cycle and is part of how the body produces methyl groups. (High homocysteine levels have links to heart disease and hearing loss.)
- Methionine is an amino acid used by the body in a million ways. It is abundant in food sources, and the body can also make it in a couple of ways, including the reaction involving BHMT.
- Betaine is also known as trimethylglycine (TMG).
The reaction catalyzed by BHMT:
Trimethylglycine (methyl donor) + homocysteine (hydrogen donor) →
dimethylglycine (hydrogen receiver) + methionine (methyl receiver)
To sum up:
In the liver, the BHMT enzyme methylates homocysteine in order to produce the needed methionine. This not only helps to keep homocysteine at an appropriate level but also produces a vital amino acid (methionine).[ref]
Understanding the role of BHMT in the methylation cycle
As I mentioned above, the BHMT enzyme involves one way that the body converts homocysteine back to methionine. Another way that cells do this is by using the enzyme methionine synthase.
Within the methylation cycle, MTHFR gene variants limit methyl groups produced in the folate cycle. This is linked to higher homocysteine levels in some people due to not enough methionine synthase being available to convert homocysteine back to methionine.
The BHMT enzyme can step into that gap — but not in people with genetic variants that decrease the enzyme function.
What happens when there are problems in the methylation cycle?
Neural tube defects are a type of birth defect that can occur when there are not enough methyl groups available during pregnancy. This is why folic acid is added to prenatal vitamins and some processed foods in many countries.
Consuming enough folate-rich foods matters a lot. Cancer rates, such as for breast cancer, increase with low folate – either through genetic variants impacting the methylation cycle or through poor diet. Many of the genetic variants only have links to an increase in the risk of cancer for people who don’t eat enough folate and/or choline.[ref][ref]
While the body has several ways of metabolizing homocysteine, BHMT is important here. In the liver, BHMT is responsible for about half of homocysteine metabolism.[ref]
High homocysteine is a marker associated with elevated heart disease risk. A number of genetic variants in the methylation cycle genes have links to higher homocysteine levels as well as heart disease.[ref] The increase in risk can be reduced through the right dietary intake of folate and other B vitamins.[ref]
BHMT Genotype Report:
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The following SNP (rs3733890 ) is the best research genetic variant in BHMT, with many studies showing that it has an impact on enzyme function:
Check your genetic data for rs3733890 R239Q G716A (23andMe v4, v5; AncestryDNA):
- A/A: reduced BHMT[ref][ref] reduced conversion of choline to betaine[ref] increased risk of early-onset heart disease with poor diet[ref]
- A/G: reduced BHMT, reduced conversion of choline to betaine, increased risk of early-onset heart disease with poor diet
- G/G: typical
Members: Your genotype for rs3733890 is —.
These variants may have a more minor impact on BHMT function:
Check your genetic data for rs651852 (23andMe v4 only):
- C/C: increased risk of cleft lip, an indicator of low methyl groups[ref]
- C/T: typical
- T/T: typical
Members: Your genotype for rs651852 is —.
Check your genetic data for rs567754 (23andMe v4, v5; AncestryDNA):
- C/C: typical
- C/T: decreased risk of ER-negative breast cancer
- T/T: decreased risk of ER-negative breast cancer.[ref]
Members: Your genotype for rs567754 is —.
Lifehacks for BHMT:
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