Ep 103: Methylation with Dani Catania

Methylation is a natural process where your body adds a tiny molecule (a methyl group) to DNA, proteins, or enzymes. It helps turn genes on or off, detoxify, produce energy and hormones, and regulate mood and immunity.

It relies on nutrients like B vitamins (B12, B6, folate) and choline. When methylation isn’t balanced, it can affect energy, mood, and overall health.

Notes from  Dani - So many women come to me feeling exhausted, foggy, or “off”… and they’ve been told “your bloods are fine.”

But here’s the thing ⬇️
 Most standard blood work only scratches the surface.

Below is a list of recommended tests that can shed more light on what may be going on for you, and I’ve broken them down into testing that your GP should be able to request, or whether you may need to seek some tests privately. 

Blood tests to request from your GP: 

- Iron studies —> great to rule out fatigue; be sure not to do these if unwell as inflammation can inflate your results and mask a deficiency. 

- Fasting glucose & fasting insulin —> important for metabolic health. Most GPs will do fasting glucose but many won’t test fasting insulin as standard practice. Insulin resistance can often be missed if it’s only fasting glucose being tested. 

- Blood lipids —> this includes markers like total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL cholesterol. If these markers are elevated, it can be a clue to a dysfunctional thyroid, insulin resistance, gut imbalances and/or PEMT gene support required. 

- Full blood count (FBC) & Urea & electrolytes (U/Es)—> great reference panels to measure other markers by. 

- LFTs (liver function tests) & KFTs (kidney function tests) —> important to check and can provide information on liver and kidney function, which can also reveal methylation challenges. 

- Thyroid testing: TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), free T4, free T3 —> important to check for fatigue, sleep, weight and energy issues. Thyroid function is closely linked to methylation balance and mitochondrial function, so these are important markers to review. See below for notes on further thyroid studies that may also be worthwhile. 

 - MTHFR gene status + homocysteine + B vitamins (B1, B6, B12 and folate) —> important to understand your MTHFR gene status and how that may be impacting your homocysteine levels. Most GPs won’t request homocysteine levels unless you are over 50yrs and present with cardiovascular risk factors. Their reference range is also different. They consider anything above 15 umol/L a concern, however, our measurement lens is different and we are looking for more tighter control, between 6-8 umol/L. Testing B vitamins is also a great reference point as it can help to paint a picture of what’s happening within your methylation cycle and whether B vitamin deficiencies or excesses may in part be responsible for the imbalance. While it may not be the first thing your GP will request, if you ask them, they should be able to request these tests also. For some, there may be a small out-of-pocket fee. 

 These aren’t just numbers on a page — they’re clues that help us see why you’re feeling the way you do, and what your body needs to feel better. And working with the right practitioner can help you to dive deeper into the root cause of what’s going on for you and how to help move your body towards healing. 

If you have any questions or would like more individual advice, please reach out to me at dani@theinstituteforhealth.com, via Instagram @theinstituteforhealth or via website www.theinstituteforhealth.com (coming soon). 

You can connect with us via our websites or social media platforms. 
Feel free to get in touch, share your thoughts and feedback, or ask any questions you have.

Katrina  -  katrina@katrinafovakis.com
Lauren  -  grassesoflifenz@gmail.com