Introduction
"What do you think is the best clinical way to monitor COMT function if you have already tested for SNPs?"
One way you can look at it is through the DUTCH test — which is at dutchtest.com — it's a dried urine hormone testing platform, they have a methylation index that is based on the methylation of estrogen. For example; the main significance of COMT, is related to long-term risk of estrogen-related cancers.
Acute symptoms are primarily going to manifest in the brain in the relation between COMT and dopamine.
The higher your COMT activity, the more flexible your brain.
The lower your COMT activity, the more rigid your brain.
If your nutrition is straight and you don't have a psychological disorder, that's just a personality trait.
They call this the worrier/warrior, phenotype.
High COMT activity; you don't worry as much, like a warrior who picks his battles, wins, and repeats. There is nothing to worry about, the only concern is victory.
If you are a low COMT activity; you're not a warrior, you're a worrier. You think about all the possible ways something could go wrong. Instead of moving forward with an image of invincibility, you struggle to move at all, like a deer in the headlights.
But that's the extremes. Within most of the population, it's just a personality trait.
So, you really look at, how is your mind operating? If your mind is getting stuck on stuff, low COMT. If your mind is racing around to different things, high COMT. If that's just your personality, don't worry about it. But if it’s starting to interfere with your life, then that’s where it matters.
Low COMT, focus on methyl donors: B12, folate, choline, betaine, some of the other assisting B vitamins.
High COMT, focus on methyl buffers: Glycine.
This Q&A can also be found as part of a much longer episode, here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/podcast/2019/02/09/ask-anything-nutrition-feb-1-2019/
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