Come to a CR Way celebration and you will find that calorie restrictors are often quite joyous.
Of course, being in great health helps you feel good, but perhaps another reason we are so happy is that following a low calorie lifestyle increases methylation (adding a methyl or CH3 molecule to cytosine or adenine DNA nucleotides). Methylation is necessary to activate mood-controlling neurotransmitters including:
Serotonin – Generates relaxation, learning, diet control
Dopamine – Modulates mood elevation, appetite, focus, and sex drive
Epinephrine (Adrenaline) – Accelerates heartbeat; suppresses appetite; increases alertness; and creates excitement, anxiety, or fear
Norepinephrine – Optimizes central nervous system function
For example, if you are under stress and increased serotonin is needed to cope, methylation facilitates that. A perfect example is shown in this study of shift-working nurses, who are under a great deal of stress.
Environmental stress affects DNA methylation of a CpG rich promoter region of serotonin transporter gene in a nurse cohort.
Alasaari JS, Lagus M, Ollila HM, Toivola A, Kivimäki M, Vahtera J, Kronholm E, Härmä M, Puttonen S, Paunio T.
PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45813. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045813. Epub 2012 Sep 28.
PMID: 23029256. NIH, NLM, PubMed access to MEDLINE
Abstract
…
Principal Findings
…[W]hen mutually adjusted for both, burnout and work stress were significant contributors (p = 0.038 and p<0.0001 respectively) to methylation levels.
Conclusions
Our findings show that environmental stress is concurrent with decreased methylation of the SLC6A4 promoter. This may lead to increased transcriptional activity of the gene, increased reuptake of serotonin from synaptic clefts, and termination of the activity of serotonin. This could present a possible coping mechanism for environmental stress in humans that could eventually increase risk for disturbed functional capability and experience of depressed mood in long-term stress.
Then there is this amazing study showing that overmethylation reflects the body’s attempt to cope with loss and trauma:
Methylation matters: interaction between methylation density and serotonin transporter genotype predicts unresolved loss or trauma.
Biological Psychiatry. 2010 Sep 1;68(5):405-7. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.05.008. Epub 2010 Jun 29.
van IJzendoorn MH, Caspers K, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Beach SR, Philibert, Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. vanijzen@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
Abstract
Background:
Do genetic or epigenetic factors play a role in making some individuals more vulnerable than others to loss of attachment figures or other traumatic experiences?
Methods:
DNA was obtained from growth phase entrained Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) transformed lymphoblast cell lines from 143 adopted participants.
Genotype of the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5HTTLPR) was determined, and methylation ratios for each of the C-phosphate-G (CpG) residues were assessed using quantitative mass spectroscopy. Unresolved loss or trauma was established using the Berkeley Adult Attachment Interview.
Results:
Higher levels of methylation of the 5HTT promoter associated CpG island were associated with increased risk of unresolved responses to loss or other trauma in carriers of the usually protective 5HTTLPR//variant. The ss variant of 5HTTLPR predicted more unresolved loss or trauma, but only in case of lower levels of methylation. Higher levels of methylation of the ss variant were associated with less unresolved loss or other trauma.
Conclusions:
Associations between 5HTTLPR polymorphisms and psychological problems are significantly altered by environmentally induced methylation patterns. Methylation may serve as the interface between adverse environment and the developing organism.
Copyright 2010 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PMID: 20591416. NIH, NLM, PubMed access to MEDLINE
The take-home message from all of this is that CR helps maintain healthy methylation levels, which in turn influences mood modulators – making it easier for you to cope and thrive.
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