PEMT Gene Mutation and Choline Deficiency
PEMT is a homozygous genetic snip that reduces the bodies ability to make phosphatidylcholine (PC) in the liver. It can be associated with the following disorders: NASH (Non-alcoholic liver disease), Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s, cancer, SIBO, gall bladder disease, sluggish gallbladder, cirrhosis, obesity, Diabetes and Insulin resistance, inability to make and transport VLDL and elevated inflammatory cytokines & TNF alpha.
Common symptoms associated with a PEMT gene mutation and choline deficiency include fatty liver, fatigue, gallbladder problems, SIBO, poor fat digestion, and difficulty losing weight due to a fatty liver, constipation.
The function of the PEMT gene is to make phosphatidylcholine (PC), which essential to make your cell membranes. Phosphatidylcholine also transports fats out of the liver, thus preventing fatty liver. Your body needs the nutrient choline to make phosphatidylcholine, highest in meat, liver, and eggs. The methyl donor SAMe is the cofactor for the PEMT gene. To make SAMe, you need to have optimal methylation.
Vegans are likely to have a slow PEMT gene even if they do not have a PEMT gene mutation since vegans are more likely to be deficient in the nutrient choline, vitamin B12, and B2 is needed to support methylation and the PEMT gene.
Estrogen also stimulates the PEMT gene to make phosphatidylcholine, but during menopause, estrogen levels drop. Many menopausal women may find it increasingly difficult to lose weight, develop gallbladder problems, increasing intolerance to fats, or develop SIBO due to decreased PC production.
One of the most important jobs of the PEMT gene is to make PC, which is needed to make healthy cell membranes for EVERY cell in your body, promote bile flow, and transport fats out of the liver!
Every day cells die and need to be replaced. The PEMT gene is constantly working to make healthy cell membranes day in and day out. PC helps keep cell membranes fluid so that nutrients are easily transported inside the cell, and waste is effectively eliminated. A healthy cell membrane also acts as an external wall protecting the contents inside the cell, such as your mitochondria and DNA, from damage. The mitochondria are responsible for producing energy in the body and are especially prone to damage if not protected by a healthy cell membrane. In fact, without a cell membrane, the cell will die.
Fatigue is a symptom associated with a PEMT gene mutation and unhealthy mitochondria. PC deficiency can lead to unhealthy leaky cell membranes that do not protect your mitochondria very well. As a result, mitochondria become damaged and cannot produce energy efficiently, thus resulting in fatigue, inflammation, muscle pain, fatty liver, elevated triglycerides, and fatty liver.
A fatty liver can be an underlying cause for insulin resistance (IR) and difficulty losing weight and getting VLDL out of the liver. Methylation (MTHFR disorder) is very important for this gene to work. B Replete by NuMedica is a good source or Methyl B Complex by Ortho-Molecular. The best supplement to support the PEMT gene is a phosphatidylcholine supplement such as BioPC Pro (up to 2000 + mg/d); take 1 scoop. Liposomal Glutathione by Researched Nutritionals @ 2 pumps daily for inflammatory bowel disease. (Available on my Fullscript site.)
The two nutrients required for the PEMT gene to function are choline and the methyl donor SAMe. Foods rich in choline include liver, eggs, soybean lecithin, sunflower lecithin, chicken, beef, salmon, cod, shitake mushrooms, and soy flour, which are the highest choline foods. Additional choline food sources lower in choline include lima beans, lentils, mung beans, chickpeas, flaxseeds, peas, sundried tomatoes, Brussel sprouts, beets, and broccoli.
According to Dr. Ben Lynch, 70% of the SAMe produce by your methylation cycle is used by your PEMT gene to make phosphatidylcholine. This only leaves 30% of the SAMe produced for the other 200 plus process that depends upon SAMe to function.
Using a phosphatidylcholine supplement bypasses the PEMT gene by supplying the end product and taking the workload off the PEMT gene and methylation. By supporting the PEMT gene with phosphatidylcholine, SAMe can better support the other 200 other processes in the body.
Eating foods with choline and nutrients needed for methylation is crucial for the ability of the PEMT gene to function optimally and prevent fatty liver, SIBO, gallbladder problems, insulin resistance, and fat malabsorption.