Key Tests Splits Depression Into 5 Biological Types: 58% Under Or Over-Methylated

wolf comment, intro, summary (on the two reviews of a study linked below) 

i forgot exactly how i came across this, what line of inquiry i was hunting down, but i'm glad i found this puzzle piece.  if accurate, this is fascinating for anyone who has a range of issues, physical and the more subtle nuanced and intangible i.e. low energy, moody, irritability, impatience, attention/memory/commitment deficit, etc.  it offers not only news better ways to understand, categorize, diagnose and nutritionally-treat 5 unique types of depression, but it also establishes a plausible physiological base - a biological origin to clinical anxiety and depression, to where these can be diagnosed with key bloodwork and handled/treated medically as a physical ailment vs sidelined as an mysterious intangible phantom mental issue. 

if further backed by followup studies, this research could be nobel laureat worthy, calling into question/dispelling what might prove to be myth:  one where depression originates in the mind vs negative thoughts are but the tail-end result of biological issues inside the body stressing multiple systems incl. neural tissues of the gut/spine/mind.   depression may well be the result of cumulative poisoning by biochem/microbiota/micronutrient imbalances and/or genetic/hormonal/enzymic quirks that require unique diagnostics/supplementation to remedy.

in my view, this feels plausible at face value.  so until proven firmly false, i find this work of interest.  the MTHFR hypothesis essentially points at impaired MTHF enzyme production aka the inability to optimally convert B9 and other Bs into key nutrients for all other systems in the chain thus putting a drain/strain on a few B vitamins/systems involved, cascading problems to the skin, detox, inflammatory, thyroid systems, etc. as well as increasing risk of seizure/stroke and blood pressure/heart issues, potentially linked, in some cases, to a host of illness from CFS, MS, the autism spectrum, ADHD to alzheimers, cancers etc. 

if true, this work shows that among the clinically depressed studied, 38% were undermethylated (low seratonin, elevated histamine and homocysteine) and 20% overmethylated (low folate, low histamine) aka 58% of total cases and the study categorizes 95% of clinical depression into 5 biotypes.  

this article added a few key baseline tests to the lineup.  and knowing your SNPs will help you know which rx and supplements your body is quasi 'allergic' to and you nobody told you about it - will spell out what chemicals will not benefit you - which ones could harm you ex. folate/folic acid found in many food products and vitamins, can well be screwing things up for you if you have MTHFR.  and the same may be true for gluten lactose and lectins (but i'll save that for later).

its one thing to know you have some type of MTHFR, its another to know the severity of your methylation function, since they're not always mutually exclusive aka you don't need to have MTHFR to be under/over methylating.  MTHFR just provides the predisposition and may amplify the likelihood.  but everyone's actual makeup/status tends to be unique enough to not fit cookie-cutter regime/dosages.

enough intro.  check these out.  

New Blood/Urine Tests Find 5 Biological Types of Depression

New ways to diagnose and treat depression using bloodwork biotype markers

http://bloodposture.blogspot.com/2017/05/new-blood-and-urine-tests-find-5_8.html

Undermethylation and Depression – Dr. Walsh Biotypes by Dr. Parker 

http://bloodposture.blogspot.com/2017/05/undermethylation-and-depression-walsh.html