HEALTH REPORT
Folate or Folic Acid?
You may think these two are interchangeable terms, but they are not. The difference? Folate is safer and easier for the body to utilise. Dr Ross Walker explains.
When folic acid is taken in by the body, it has to be converted to its active form, 5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate), in order to produce folate which can then be used by the body. This conversion process occurs via the activation of an enzyme in the body called MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase). However, taking the active form of folate, Quatrefolic® from Gnosis by Lesaffre, bypasses this metabolic hurdle so that it is delivered to the body in its active form, ready to go to work immediately. This is particularly important for people who have the MTHFR gene polymorphism, which is a genetic anomaly that impairs the conversion of folic acid to 5-MTHF. According to MTHFR Support, approximately 53 percent of the Australian population has the MTHFR managing homocysteine, an amino acid which, when present in excess, can be detrimental to the body. Homocysteine is created during the metabolism of another amino acid called methionine. Normal levels of homocysteine can be beneficial, but elevated levels can impair health in several ways. Supplementing with folate can be helpful, because it is an essential regulator of homocysteine gene polymorphism. Homocysteine's foe One of folate's prime benefits is
metabolism and contributes to normalising levels. Research shows that taking folate (in conjunction with vitamins B6 and B12) is able to reduce homocysteine levels better than conventional vitamin
methylation cycle, which is essential for cellular regulation and expression and impacts DNA synthesis and repair. Folate for all Folate supplementation can address the following health and wellness concerns. • Cardiovascular health: Research shows that there is a predictive relationship between elevated homocysteine levels and the risk of ischaemic heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and stroke. Through its ability to manage homocysteine levels, folate supplementation may protect cardiovascular and neurovascular function. In one study, approximately 56 percent of participants with hypertension who took modest amounts of folate, along with vitamins B6 and B12, were able to reduce their homocysteine to healthier levels compared to those who took a multi with a high dose of folic acid. • Fertility: Folate supports improved fertility in both women and men. Low levels of circulating folate have been implicated in female and male infertility, and are often the result of the MTHFR polymorphism. In men, folate is essential for healthy sperm creation, and low levels in semen are related to poor sperm DNA stability and damage. In women, high homocysteine and low folate can
One of folate's prime benefits is managing homocysteine, an amino acid which, when present in excess, can be detrimental to the body. Research shows that there is a predictive relationship between elevated homocysteine levels and the risk of ischaemic
heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and stroke.
supplementation of high-dose folic acid (5 mg/day). In addition, supplementing with folic acid – but not folate – may lead to a build-up of unmetabolised folic acid (UMFA), which can cause adverse effects. Folate plays a central role in the
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ISSUE 73 • 2025
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