Dr. Berg’s Healthy Keto and Intermittent Fasting Podcast

Folic Acid vs. Folate Explained and Simplified

Oct 10, 2023

05:53

Snipd AI

In this podcast, Dr. Berg discusses the difference between folic acid and folate, the role of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects, and the impact of a genetic mutation on folic acid conversion. He emphasizes the importance of methyl folate for individuals with the mutation and provides recommendations for natural B9 sources. It is essential to avoid excessive synthetic folic acid intake and consume more foods with natural folate like dark leafy green vegetables.

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Quick takeaways

Folic acid is the synthetic version of vitamin B9, while folate is the natural version, and individuals with a genetic mutation should avoid consuming too much folic acid.

To mitigate the potential complications associated with the MTHFR gene mutation, it is advisable to consume methyl folate, a type of vitamin B9 that can be easily absorbed and doesn't rely on enzyme reactions like folic acid does.

Deep dives

Difference between folic acid and folate

Folic acid and folate are two forms of vitamin B9, and while they serve similar purposes, there are important distinctions. Folic acid is synthetic, often found in prenatal supplements and fortified foods. It can help prevent neural tube defects in pregnancy. However, for individuals with a certain gene mutation, MTHFR, the ability to convert folic acid into an active form is impaired, potentially leading to complications if large amounts of synthetic folic acid are consumed. On the other hand, folate is the natural version of B9 and doesn't require conversion. Methyl folate is a type of B9 that can be easily absorbed and doesn't rely on enzyme reactions like folic acid.

Understanding the Difference Between Folic Acid and Folate

2min

The Importance of Methyl Folate and the Risks of Synthetic Folic Acid

4min

Today I’m going to cover folic acid and folate. Are they the same? No, they’re not—and we’re going to talk about why. Folic acid is the synthetic version of vitamin B9, and folate is the natural version. Many pregnant women take a supplement that contains folic acid because data shows that it can help prevent neural tube defects. But many people are finding that they have a genetic mutation related to B9, which means there could be a problem if they take folic acid. This genetic mutation involves an enzyme responsible for converting folic acid into an active form so your body can use it. People with this mutation need more vitamin B9 than usual, but it’s also important that they don’t have too much. For example, one of the top benefits of vitamin B9 is that it protects against the initiation of cancer. However, excess vitamin B9 is also involved in the initiation of new cancer cells. The solution is to take a version of vitamin B9 that doesn’t require an enzyme to be converted—making this genetic mutation not a problem anymore. What we need is more methylfolate. Methylfolate is a type of vitamin B9 that’s easily absorbed and doesn’t require other enzyme reactions like synthetic folic acid does. Overall, it’s essential to avoid products that contain folic acid and consume more foods that contain natural folate. The best source of natural B9 is dark leafy green vegetables.

DATA:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23125...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crin...