Methylation

In my book I explain the importance of methylation – here’s a little more about this essential process.

Methylation is a fundamental biochemical process that underpins everything from gene regulation and detoxification to neurotransmitter production and liver health.

In my book I explain what methylation is and how important it is when it comes to fertility and making a baby. In fact, if there are significant methylation issues such as MTHFR, you may experience problems getting pregnant.

This is not the platform to get entrenched in biochemistry but suffice to say that there are several nutrients absolutely and unequivocally essential to fertility and having a baby. How efficient your methylation is working will directly impact millions of processed inside your forming baby and for the rest of its life. The nutrients mostly associated with methylation are the B-vitamins B6, B9 and B12.

A nutrient that is often overlooked when it comes to methylation is choline.

Emerging research, including a 2025 review by Bortz and Obeid, shines a spotlight on choline as a central, yet often overlooked, nutrient in one-carbon metabolism. Understanding choline’s role—and how it works alongside folate—is critical for practitioners supporting patients with neurological, cardiovascular, reproductive, or metabolic issues.

Methylation is the process of transferring a methyl group from one molecule to another. It is essential for:

• DNA synthesis and repair – remember your unborn baby is making thousands of new cells every day
• Epigenetic gene regulation – this is setting the blueprint for your baby
• Neurotransmitter production – mental health
• Detoxification via Phase II pathways -so important to ensure environmental toxins are eliminated before they do harm
• Hormone metabolism – fundamental to fertility
• Lipid transport and liver function – underlying essential bodily functions

In other words, choline deficiency compromises both methylation and liver function. This effect is amplified during pregnancy, where insufficient choline intake can cause fatty liver not only in the mother but also in the developing fetus. 

NB: men also need to be aware of methylation to support healthy sperm numbers and quality.

The relationship is bidirectional. Folate deficiency has been shown to reduce hepatic choline content, exacerbate liver fat accumulation, and impair methylation. This interdependence means that supporting one nutrient while ignoring the other may lead to suboptimal outcomes.

For example, even when folate status is adequate, choline or betaine may be lacking—especially under stress, high methylation demand, or in those with BHMT or PEMT gene polymorphisms. Polymorphisms are explained in my book.

Key sources of choline include: Please remember to source organic produce

• Egg yolks
• Beef liver
• Fish (e.g., wild caught salmon)
• Chicken
• Quinoa
• Soybeans
• Brussels sprouts and broccoli

Reference:
Bortz, J., & Obeid, R. (2025). The Shuttling of Methyl Groups Between Folate and Choline Pathways. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202507.1396.v2