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Superior Source: 2016 Science of Supplements


Superior Source

4510 S. Boyle Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90058
Phone: (800) 421 6175 • Fax: (323) 589-6667
Email: information@superiorsourcevitamins.com
Website: www.superiorsourcevitamins.com

When is a Vitamin Not a Vitamin? When Your Body Cannot Use it.

By Martie Whittekin, CCN

Consumers would be surprised to learn they might be one of the majority who may be suffering a virtual deficiency of the important B vitamin, folate. That is in spite of their taking folic acid in various supplements and eating fortified with folic acid. Unfortunately, up to 60 percent of the population does not convert folic acid optimally into the active form that the body actually uses—5-methyltetrahydrofolate (or 5-MTHF for short). Those with one of the 50 genetic variations convert almost no folic acid to the useable form.

Folate is the form found naturally in foods such as dark green leafy vegetables and Brussels sprouts. Sometimes called vitamin B9, it also needs to be converted to 5-MTHF. The scientific literature usually refers to generic “folate,” but there seems to be no controversy that what does the work in the body is the active form, 5-MTHF or that it is needed to regulate cell growth and repair tissue from conception through old age.

Textbooks tell us that active folate helps regulate DNA and key metabolic processes needed for healthy mood, memory, circulation, immune function and overall well-being. Folate is also involved in the production of various neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and melatonin. Anti-depressant medication may work better if the patient is supplemented with folate.1 Homocysteine, as we’ve learned, is implicated in heart disease and cancer. Folate is required for the methylation process that neutralizes homocysteine. There is also some evidence that it helps regulate cholesterol.2 Inadequate folate levels are associated with infertility, low birth-weight babies and ADD (attention deficit disorder). Deficiency signs also include palpitations, headaches, irritability, behavioral problems, confusion, diarrhea, ulcers, sore tongue, canker sores and a type of anemia.

In 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated fortification of grain products (like bread and cereal). That action was a long overdue effort to prevent neural tube birth defects such as Spina bifida. At that time, it was believed that synthetic folic acid was naturally changed in the human gut into the natural form. However, recent science has shown that this step actually takes place in the liver. In addition to the genetic variations that can reduce and individual’s capacity for converting folic acid to 5-MTHF, apparently anyone’s metabolic system can become overloaded if, for example, he or she eats too many foods fortified with folic acid. The overloaded system may then dump unchanged folic acid into circulation, creating unwelcome effects … especially for those being treated for leukemia and arthritis. A British study noted that the results of un-metabolized folic acid might not show up for 20 years and there is a controversy brewing about how serious some of those long-term effects might be.

It is possible to test for the genetic variations that interfere with the conversion to 5-MTHF, but it seems a lot easier, cheaper and ultimately better for health to just supplement with the real thing, methyltetrahydrofolate. This active form is superior in several ways to other forms of folate. Importantly, it bypasses the genetic reasons for failing to convert folic acid and avoids the potentially negative effects of unconverted folic acid. It is also less susceptible to interference by drugs and 5-MTHF is also less likely to mask a B-12 deficiency.3

I recommend Superior Source microlingual products to clients mainly because compliance is so good. Also, since the tabs dissolve almost instantly in the mouth, they avoid another potential roadblock—low stomach acid. In my book, Natural Alternatives to Nexium, I point out that heartburn drugs cause an inadequacy of folate. 5-MTHF is more resistant to that interference.

A Note of Caution: Medications can interfere with folate but the reverse is also true. Anyone taking anti-folate medication (e.g. some chemotherapy drugs) should consult their physician before supplementing any form of folic acid.

References:

1 Owen RT. Folate augmentation of antidepressant response. Drugs Today (Barc). 2013 Dec;49(12):791-8. doi: 10.1358/dot.2013.49.12.2086138.

2 Mierzecki A1, et al. Association between low-dose folic acid supplementation and blood lipids concentrations in male and female subjects with atherosclerosis risk factors. Med Sci Monit. 2013 Sep 4;19:733-9. doi: 10.12659/MSM.889087.

3 Scaglione F1, et al. Folate, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are not the same thing. Xenobiotica. 2014 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print].

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