When you think of B vitamins, B1, B6, and B12 likely come to mind. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on another key member of the B-vitamin family. It gets less attention but is equally important. We all rely on it since before we were born, and yet many of us struggle to absorb it. What is this elusive essential B vitamin?

Let’s get to know Vitamin B9—you might know it by its more common name, Folate.

Hello, my name is Folate

Folate goes by so many different names, it’s no wonder some people get confused. Vitamin B9, Folic Acid, Methylfolate, MTHF, 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate, and L-Methylfolate are some of the names you’ll commonly see listed on nutrition labels. ^[1]

While it’s true Folate has many names and forms, it doesn’t mean they’re all equal. The name you see on the label matters a lot, and we’re going to teach you what to look for.

Before we break down the differences, it’s helpful if we explain some Folate basics. Like many nutrients, Folate must be converted by the body into an active form your cells can use. This wouldn’t be a problem, except many of us have a genetic mutation that hinders our body’s ability to complete this conversion process.²

Folate Fun Fact: Research suggests—somewhere between 10 and 40 percent of adults are impacted by this genetic mutation. However, it’s difficult to narrow the number down since many people are never tested.³

Are you getting your Folate? Maybe not.

Each of us have two different genes that can be impacted by what’s known as the “MTHFR mutation.” You received one of these genes from your mom and one from your dad, and the mutation can affect one or the other, or even both of them.⁴

If you’d like to get sciency, C677T and A1298C are the genes that are impacted—but the thing you really need to know is that these genes are responsible for creating an enzyme called Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase, or MTHFR.⁴

MTHFR converts the Folate you consume into its active form. If it’s not working properly, your body struggles to complete the multistep process required. And since Folate is needed for things like DNA and RNA synthesis, amino acid metabolism, and even maintaining normal red blood cells—it’s important to reach your recommended levels every day.⁴

Have you ever been given a gift you couldn’t use? If you have this genetic mutation, the same thing is happening inside your body. It’s crazy to think about, isn’t it? You could be giving your body the Folate it needs and still be deficient.⁵

Meet Methyl, she’s always available.

Now that you know the problem, let’s talk about the solution. The good news is, it’s pretty simple. All you need is to know what to look for. Here’s a quick breakdown of what makes the different types of Folate unique.

Folic Acid

Folic Acid is the synthetic version of Folate, which isn’t found in nature. Your body must go through several steps to convert it into an active form that can be utilized.⁶

Folate

The natural form of Vitamin B9. It’s found in many of the foods you eat, especially leafy greens, fruits, and veggies. Beef liver is also a great source of Folate—that is, if you can stomach it.⁶  However, even though it’s natural, Folate is only step one. When it’s consumed, your body still has to convert it into its active form.

Methylfolate (MTHF)

That’s where Methylfolate comes in. After going through step after step to transform into something your body can use, Methylfolate is the end result. L-Methylfolate or 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate, to be more precise.⁷

This is what’s called the “bioavailable” form. It means your body can take what it needs, without having to break things down further.⁸

Bioactive forms of nutrients are gifts that keep on giving. They’re nutrients that can be used by your body instantly, which is a huge deal when it comes to the MTHFR gene mutation. When you consume Folate in its bioavailable form, your body gets what it needs.

That’s why we used Methylfolate in XFactor Plus and XFactor Kids—because your daily multivitamin should always have the highest efficancy!

How much Folate do you actually need?

Adults over the age of 19 need around 400 mcg of Folate each day. You can meet this daily requirement through a healthy diet, and with some help from XFactor Plus.⁶

Women who are nursing or pregnant need a bit more Folate in their diets. Of course, you should always check with your doctor, but the NIH recommends between 500-600 mcg daily. That’s because Folate plays a critical role in the development of the fetus. In fact, by the third trimester, women need almost twice the amount of Folate to help ensure the baby is healthy.⁹

Methylfolate isn’t the only premium ingredient we use in our products. Jump over and see how we made Slim awesome with XOS, a highly-effective prebiotic fiber.

 

References

1 https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-Consumer/

2 https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MTHFR#synonyms

3 https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/Images/GEN_MTHFR_tcm63-938252.pdf

4 https://www.mthfrsupport.com.au/what-is-mthfr/

5 https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/folic-acid

6 https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/

7 http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/folate

8 http://americannutritionassociation.org/blog/gkester/04_25_2016/bioavailability-why-important