Are you more of a slow COMT type?
Jane is.
Jane’s had a tough day. Her PMS symptoms were worse than usual - headache was pounding, breasts were tender, and she was less patient than usual. She found herself yelling at others for the littlest of things. Feeling helpless with her emotions out of control, she retreats into her car. She’s learned that, when all else fails, going for a walk with her beloved dog helps her immensely. Alone time in nature. While focusing on calm breath through her nose and strolling amongst the singing birds, she feels so much better.
If that sounds like you at times, you are not alone.
What Jane was experiencing is what we call a Slow COMT.
Slow COMT Enzyme Characteristics
- Higher estrogen levels (in both men and women)
- Difficulty with onset of sleep
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Low stress tolerance
- Headaches
What happened to Jane?
Jane inherited a Slow COMT genetic disposition. She was just like her sister. Overall, she managed to keep her COMT gene in balance with healthy eating, clean living and being active. Importantly, she also learned the importance of alone quiet time. That, single-handedly, helped her the most. Another valuable lesson she learned over the years was that she felt much worse when she made unhealthy decisions. In other words, Jane knew what dirtied her COMT gene and what cleaned it up.
A Dirty Gene
A dirty gene is a gene that doesn’t function at its best. A gene gets dirty typically from lifestyle, foods, chemicals in the environment, supplements or medications. When a gene gets dirty, symptoms arrive and make you feel bad. The good news is, you can clean up a dirty gene.
Your COMT gene can get very dirty, very quickly. Frankly, almost everyone’s COMT gene is imbalanced and dirty. Learning how to balance, and clean, your COMT gene is an important life skill. An entire chapter explaining how your COMT gene works, gets dirty and how to clean it up is available in the book, Dirty Genes. The chapter contains a quiz so you can quickly check the status of your COMT gene.
Genes Work As a Team
Genes do not function in isolation.
Genes have jobs to do. When a gene does its job, it usually makes work for another gene or two. Thus, the more work you give one gene, the more work you give other genes. When you clean one gene, you are, in a sense, cleaning multiple genes at once.
A Slow COMT Teams Up with other enzymes
(Like this diagram? Imagine it with your own personal genetic findings overlaid on top of each gene. We also guide you on how to interpret it. Get your StrateGene Report here.)
Slow COMT Teams Up with MAOA, MAOB and ALDH
Having a genetically slow COMT predisposes you to more irritability and less stress tolerance. While this is indeed true, it’s not always the case.
Your genes work as a team. Your slow COMT works very closely with MAOA, MAOB and ALDH. If any of these genes are slow as well, your genetically slow COMT symptom picture may be amplified negatively. You may be even more irritable and even less stress tolerant.
Notice on the pathway above that you need all four genes - COMT, MAOA, MAOB and ALDH - to completely eliminate dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine.
There are some researched genetic variations (ie. SNPs) which are known to slow or speed up the ALDH, MAOA and MAOB enzymes. Slower function of any of these may lead to stress intolerance, headaches and irritability. Faster function may lead to poor learning ability, low motivation and low mood.
You need to keep all these genes in order to have the most successful life.
SAMe and COMT
You heard that SAMe may help someone with a slow COMT.
Then you heard from others that SAMe made them worse. Others said SAMe definitely helped their slow COMT.
Goodness. Who’s right?
They both are.
A big reason why a SAMe supplement works or doesn’t work for supporting a slow COMT enzyme is not just dependent on the quality of the SAMe supplement. It also has to do with your other elimination genes such as MAOA, MAOB and ALDH genes.
Dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine breakdown requires all four genes as you can above - COMT, MAO, MAOB and ALDH. This means COMT is just but one enzyme necessary in the elimination of stress neurotransmitters.
If you have a slow COMT function, took SAMe supplements, and did not feel better, it is likely that one of these other elimination genes is dirty. This stops the process of complete elimination from happening.
There’s another big reason why SAMe may not support a Slow COMT sufficiently. In order for the COMT enzyme to properly use SAMe, sufficient magnesium has to be present. Magnesium is the cofactor for the COMT enzyme. If there is little to no magnesium available, even in the presence of plenty of SAMe, the COMT enzyme will not work well.
There are some researched SNPs which are known to slow or speed up the ALDH and MAOA and MAOB enzymes. Slower function of any of these may lead to stress intolerance and irritability. On the other hand, faster function may lead to low energy, low mood, and poor sleep. The key is optimal function.
This is why Dr. Lynch’s Pulse Method is so important.
Slow COMT and Estrogen
A slow COMT may break down estrogen too slowly. This may lead to estrogen dominance in both men and women. This makes one more susceptible to irritability, difficulty falling asleep, breast tenderness, headaches.
A benefit of a slow COMT and estrogen is that you may have glowing skin, better focus, improved learning ability, stronger bones and healthier levels of estrogen during menopause.
What Dirties your Slow COMT gene
While you cannot change what you inherited as your COMT gene, you can definitely influence how it functions. This is called epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of how lifestyle, food, the environment, and nutrients influence how genes turn on and turn off.
Let’s look at various epigenetic factors that can dirty and clean your Slow COMT. You’ll walk away actually knowing how to influence your own genes! If you’re experiencing a grumpy mood, headaches or intolerance to stressors, you’ll know some actions to take real time.
Environment: Research shows a noisy sleep environment (near highway, train tracks, airports, city life, college dorms) increases catecholamine levels. Higher catecholamines (dopamine, norepi and epi) create a bigger workload on the COMT enzyme. More work for your COMT enzyme means less will get done on time. Thus, you’ll overload an already slow COMT enzyme making it even slower.
- Avoid clutter and disorganization (e.g., desk, closet, kitchen, garage).
- Avoid stressful environments (e.g., city life, emergency rooms);
- Early-life adversity (e.g., victim of abuse, robbery, mugging, rape, assault, not living with biological parents);
- EMF, WiFi, bluetooth, dirty electricity especially in the workplace and sleeping areas.
- High estrogen (obesity, xenoestrogens like plastics) increase COMT’s workload.
Lifestyle: A fast-paced, high stress lifestyle may be unsuited for a slow COMT type.
Food:
- GAPS, Paleo, Carnivore or otherwise high protein diets may exacerbate a slow COMT especially in the evening.
- Any catechol-containing foods (e.g., curries, golden milk or chai with turmeric, curcumin) and caffeine drinks (e.g., energy drinks, coffee, green tea) may also exacerbate.
- Caffeine may increase cardiovascular risk susceptibility especially when combined with caffeine-sensitivity variations in ADORA/2A (adenosine receptors), ADA (breaks down adenosine), DRD2 (dopamine receptor) and CYP1A2 (breaks down caffeine).
Supplements: These may exacerbate:
- Tyrosine
- EGCG from green tea
- Inositol
- 5-HTP
- adrenal cortex
- nootropics (e.g., huperzine A, choline, methylfolate, methylcobalamin)
- stimulants (e.g., Panax ginseng, caffeine)
- Mucuna pruriens
Many medications interact with this enzyme.
- Stimulating ADHD medications (e.g., methamphetamines),
- birth control
- steroids (e.g., cortisol).
Consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
How to clean your Slow COMT gene
Environment:- Create a low stress, safe, nurturing environment
- Identify sources of joy.
- Nature settings may be best.
- Implement the KonMari method (Marie Kondo) to organize and create a healing space.
- Feng shui to assist in creating harmony and ease of flow.
- Sleep with airplane mode enabled on the phone.
- Turn off bluetooth and WiFi.
- Use wired ethernet versus WiFi.
- Test electrical outlets for dirty electricity and clean up using Greenwave devices.
- Supportive and nurturing parenting techniques are especially important for slow COMT children.
- Working alone vs group projects
- Create a quieter place in the home or office setting so you can perform best.
- Use acute and chronic stress management techniques (e.g., breathing meditations, mindfulness)
- Exercise which nourishes (e.g., yoga, hiking in nature, non-competitive team sports, cross country skiing, paddleboarding, walking your dog, gardening).
- Start your day with a balanced meal (protein, carbs and fat). .
- Dinner should be lighter protein, higher fat and some carbs as excess protein may disturb sleep.
- Consider ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating.
- Optimize magnesium and vitamin D.
- Optimize methylation: Be mindful with L-5-MTHF as it is most stimulating for neurotransmission. Folinic acid is a gentler support and often tolerated better for those with a slow COMT. Natural folates from food help to optimize, but not over-stimulate neurotransmitters.
- Lithium orotate may be supportive along with herbal adaptogens like Passiflora, Eleuthrococcus, Withania somnifera (ashwagandha).
- Silybum marianum (milk thistle), Curcumin, DIM (diindolylmethane), calcium-D-glucarate, indole-3-carbinol can indirectly reinforce COMT activity by supporting estrogen balance, supporting liver or balancing conversion of testosterone to estrogen.
- Consider creatine and phosphatidylcholine as two supplements that support methylation by sparing the utilization of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe). Choose non-GMO soy or sunflower derived phosphatidylcholine.
- Supporting a slow MAOA may be supportive as well so consider using riboflavin (B2).
- If combined with other genetic variants which enhance neurotransmission, one must really focus on balancing stress reduction techniques and not just use supplements. It won’t work.
- Be mindful that these supplement recommendations are for those truly experiencing a Slow COMT (as determined by quiz scores in Dirty Genes, your health professional and/or lab testing), not just having a Slow COMT haplotype.
- Always check with your doctor when making changes to diet, supplement regimen and/or medications.
How Seeking Health May Help You
Supplements support the healthy functioning of your genes and enzymes. Understanding what, when, who, and why to use a specific supplement is crucial.
As always, talk with your healthcare professional prior to supplementing with any of the recommendations below.
The recommendations are organized in order of importance. If you're looking for just one, or a few supplements, to support a healthy COMT enzyme, consider the first few recommendations seriously.
Here are the Top Slow COMT supplement recommendations: a. Stress and Irritability: stress increases the amount of work your COMT enzyme has to do. The more work it has to do, the dirtier it gets and the more stressed you get. By managing stress and supporting feelings of calmness, your COMT enzyme functions well. Support healthy levels of stress to support a healthy COMT enzyme.
| Adrenal Nutrients (capsule) | Supports a healthy tolerance to stress. Supports a healthy sense of calmness. Best used daily for best results. Take in the morning after breakfast.* | All ages 4 and up may use. Breastfeeding women may use. Pregnant women should not use. |
| Lithium Orotate (capsule) | Supports a healthy response to stressors. Supports a healthy sense of calmness. When feeling calm, do not use it. Take without food any time of the day.* | All ages 4 and up may use. Breastfeeding women may use. Pregnant women should not use. |
| DIM + I3C (capsules) | Supports healthy estrogen levels. Take any time of the day.* | Ages teen and above may use as needed. Men and women may use as needed. Safe for breastfeeding women. Talk with your doctor if pregnant. |
| Methylate (chewable) | Consider taking when need to support low mood or energy. Supports healthy homocysteine levels. Take with or without food. Do not take within 5 hours of bedtime as it may interfere with sleep.* | All ages 4 and up may use. Great for kids. Tablets may be cut into halves or quarters for lower doses, or taken throughout the day. Safe for breastfeeding and pregnant women. |
| HomocysteX Plus (capsule) | Consider taking when need to support healthy cognition. Supports healthy homocysteine levels. Take with or without food. Do not take within 5 hours of bedtime as it may interfere with sleep.* | All ages 4 and up may use. Capsules may be opened and put into food or drink if needed. Safe for breastfeeding and pregnant women. |
| SAMe (capsule) | Support healthy onset of sleep. Supports a healthy response to stress. Take 45 minutes before or 60 minutes after a meal. Taking away from food increases absorption.* | All ages 4 and up may use. Opening capsule is not recommended. Safe for breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor if pregnant. |
| Optimal Magnesium (capsules) | Supports healthy magnesium levels. Supports the COMT enzyme as a cofactor. Take any time, with or without food.* | All ages 4 and up may use. Capsule may be opened and put into food or drink if needed. Safe for breastfeeding and pregnant women. |
The Bottom Line
Your COMT enzyme is most likely slow to break down harmful estrogen metabolites into less harmful estrogens before it is eliminated from your body. High levels of harmful estrogen metabolites can lead to conditions such as irritability, endometriosis, PCOS, PMS, and headaches.
It is also essential to eliminate other harmful compounds generated from dopamine breakdown. Make sure that they are fully eliminated from the body by supporting MAOA, MAOB and ALDH enzymes.
High levels of harmful dopamine metabolites can lead to conditions such as headaches, irritability, aggression, problems with sleeping, mood swings, and low energy levels.
Now that you know what your slow COMT enzyme does, how is your slow COMT enzyme functioning? Do you have symptoms that indicate slower or faster COMT?
Discover the genetic speed of your COMT enzyme (and other dopamine genes)
Learn About You
Do you have genetic testing done already? Then you’re ready to get your StrateGene Report,
StrateGene uses your genetic raw data from SelfDecode, Ancestry or 23andme.
Genetic testing not done yet? We recommend you use SelfDecode.
Why? SelfDecode is privately owned, has a great privacy policy and has more SNPs tested than either Ancestry or 23andme. Plus, you get their genetic reports in addition to just a genetic test.
Dr. Lynch has partnered with SelfDecode so you can save 15%. Use coupon SEEKINGHEALTH at the SelfDecode checkout.
Why you want to order StrateGene:- Visually see how your genes are impacting your health
- Learn how your SNPs (genetic variations or “mutations”) can affect your health
- Discover how to support your health more effectively
- Access to the StrateGene® Education Portal with videos and articles to help you understand your results
- Answer lifelong questions about why you feel a certain way.
- Uncover SNPs which are known to impact your life
- Learn how to properly support each of these formerly hidden SNPs
- Checklists of lifestyle factors which support or hinder your genes.
- Checklists of foods which support or hinder your genes.
- Checklists of environmental compounds which support or hinder your genes.
- Medications which may support or hinder your genes.
- Detailed information on how your genes work
- Detailed information on how genes work as a team - ie. how genes influence other genes
- Quizzes which help identify if your genes need specific types of support.
- Lab markers to consider ordering to see if your genes need support
- Detailed supplement recommendations
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AUTHORS
- Elizma Lambert specializes in functional diagnostics, nutrigenomics and cellular dysfunction whilst taking a generalist approach to her clinical practice and teaching. She is well known for her ability to ‘connect-the-dots’ between root cause, symptoms, and genetics, and helping people reach a better understanding of their health conditions. www.elizmalambert.com
- Dr. Ben Lynch. Best-selling author of Dirty Genes, founder of Seeking Health, and creator of StrateGene
