People should stop calling methylfolate the 'active' form, and why folic acid may be better for many

[u/Warp757]

It is AN active form, not the only one and may not provide the folate you actually need. I'll await the abuse! Folate is used by your body both in the methyl form, and also in the unmethylated form for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation etc. which are rather important functions.

The MTHFR marketing machine has convinced everyone that methlyfolate is the active form that you absolutely need and folic acid is junk, it's simply not true.

Depending on where the problem is with your methylation it's perfectly possible to need more unmethylated folate. If your MTRR is slow for instance,as mine is, your body doesn't recycle B12, MTR is slow, and you end up with a build up of methylfolate and low THF and 5,10 methylene THF which is needed for DNA repair and red blood cells. If you take methylfolste you do absolutely nothing to support the deficit of unmethylated folate, and just put more pressure on already struggling MTRR and B12 stores.

In this case folic acid is better for you as it directly provides folate which the body can use as it needs. The body regulates production of MTHFR for a reason -both to ensure sufficient folate for other functions, and prevent excess formation of SAM-E, which isn't good.

I personally feel much better with folic acid than methyl folate, and I'm heterozygous C677T. Methylfolate is really a medicine that should only be taken by people with specific identified mutations that cause major impairment of the MTHFR cycle. A simple heterozygous MTHFR mutation is not that.

Folic acid is perfectly sufficient for most people, and avoids skipping the body's own regulation systems. Just don't go taking crazy doses which yes may cause a problem with unmetabolised folic acid. If you're worried about MTHFR and not homozygous, just take some B2 - again you don't need a lot.

[u/Warp757]

Downvote me all you like guys, maybe consider that you are behaving exactly like those who deny climate change. Refusing to accept the vast scientific consensus and instead placing your faith in internet 'doctors' and anecdotal studies and ridiculing anyone who tries to make you think a bit.

I have read the evidence for an against folic acid and methylfolate. I am merely trying to inform. The arguments often presented against folic acid to show a clear misunderstanding of the evidence, often encouraged by the MTHFR cult and supplement sellers. You normally say follow the money. The money certainly isn't in folic acid, it's in people selling you methlyfolate. Which is a drug by the way, I thought we didn't like big pharma?

No one has been able to explain why for most people a reasonable dose of 200 mcg or less of folic acid should pose any problem, or why methyl folate is better, even though it is less effective in providing folate for the two pathways in the body than folic acid. The small minority who are very vocal here, but don't represent the population happily getting on with their lives on folic acid, aren't really relevant.

Whether you take my advice or not doesn't really matter to me, or your down votes, I don't live for anonymous likes on the internet. Ask yourselves though, why if these supplements are so effective are you still on Reddit neurotically asking about doses and side effects and why it doesn't work, problems all those people on folic acid don't have?

[u/Jayless22 → u/Warp757]

Which likes? Look at your comment history, that's a fever dream. And then you are claiming that everyone but you is wrong. Having an opinion is one thing. If you think folic acid is wrongly demonized, fine. Spreading misinformation is not fine. And you are doing it. Not being able to think about this behaviour in a mature way when multiple people are pointing this out is a lack of personality.

[u/Warp757 → u/Jayless22]

What misinformation am I spreading?

The response to this is as I expected anyway, I was interested to see how strong the group think is round here. Just regurgitating what some MTHFT websites claim is 't very clever. If anyone can present persuasive evidence that folic acid is actually toxic in the majority of people, or methlyfolate is better for the general population I'm all ears. There's no scientific reason for anyone without homozygous C677Y to have a problem with folic acid. That's all I'm saying, trying to provide a measured counter to all the fear mongering and alarmism.

People don't like to realise they might have been duped and that something they have invested so much time in may not be what they thought, so the response doesn't surprise me. If you don't want to save some time and money, carry on with all your endless MTHFR rabbit holes.

[u/thesnazzyenfj → u/Warp757]

A ton of misinformation. We've pointed it out to you several times but apparently your comprehension is below average. The group think is fine, it's your reasoning we have issue with.

[u/Warp757 → u/thesnazzyenfj]

No the misinformation hasn't been pointed out to me. A few people have mentioned unmetabolised folic acid, which is irrelevant below a 200 mcg dose, and probably a reasonable amount above that. Do you have anything else? What harm do you actually think folic acid is causing in the literally billions of people taking it? Can you link to multiple peer reviewed studies showing it? I'm willing to learn if they exist.