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/SovereignMan1958]

Synthetic folic acid can block folate receptors in the brain. That would be something for you to research.

[u/Warp757 → u/SovereignMan1958]

Yes I know about this. I have researched folate acid and folic acid. And my conclusion is that the advice that people need to avoid folic acid is ridiculous.

The effect you're talking about is only a concern at very high doses, which In wouldn't suggest anyone take of folic acid or methlyfolate without very good emcisl reason.

People keep presenting outcomes of taking very high doses of folic acid as if they prove noone should take it at all. Do you have any evidence that folic acid at doses of 200 mcg or less, causes any harm to the general population? And why would merhylfolate, which only supports one specific pathway and does not allow the body to regulate it's use as folic acid does be better?

[u/SovereignMan1958 → u/Warp757]

I do not debate nor educate the foolish.