DNA Methylation as a Biomarker for Monitoring Disease Outcome in Patients with Hypovitaminosis and Neurological Disorders

Abstract

DNA methylation remains an under-recognized diagnostic biomarker for several diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we examined differences in global DNA methylation (5mC) levels in serum samples from patients during the initial- and the follow-up visits. Each patient underwent a blood analysis and neuropsychological assessments. The analysis of 5mC levels revealed two categories of patients; Group A who, during the follow-up, had increased 5mC levels, and Group B who had decreased 5mC levels. Patients with low Fe-, folate-, and vitamin B12- levels during the initial visit showed increased levels of 5mC after treatment when assessed during the follow-up. During the follow-up, 5mC levels in Group A patients increased after treatment for hypovitaminosis with the nutraceutical compounds Animon Complex and MineraXin Plus. 5mC levels were maintained during the follow-up in Group A patients treated for neurological disorders with the bioproducts AtreMorine and NeoBrainine. There was a positive correlation between 5mC levels and MMSE scores, and an inverse correlation between 5mC and ADAS-Cog scores. This expected correlation was observed in Group A patients only. Our study appears to indicate that 5mC has a diagnostic value as a biomarker across different pathologies.

Keywords

• DNA methylation
• folic acid
• vitamin B12
• psychometric testing
• biomarker