Should I be looking for folic acid or folate?
Governments around the world recommend supplementing with folate/folic acid in preparation for and during the first part of pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of neural tube defects*. The terms “folate” and “folic acid” are often used interchangeably, however there is a crucial difference. Folate is found in food, while most food supplements contain folic acid, however some supplements such as Bio-Kult Pregnéa now contain a more bioavailable form known as methylfolate.
Once consumed, folate/folic acid are both metabolised and converted in to MethylTetraHydroFolate (5-MTHF), which is the biologically active form. However, it is interesting to know that a large proportion of the population have some degree of reduced capacity to process folic acid. Supplementing with folate such as the 5-MTHF form found within Bio-Kult Pregnéa may therefore be more efficacious than supplementing with standard folic acid. The full name of the 5-MTHF form used with Pregnéa as shown within the Ingredients list is 5-MethylTetraHydroFolic Acid. This very complicated name contains the simpler term Folic Acid, but it is important to be aware that the 5-MethylTetraHydro part of the name indicates that this is the metabolised form and hence ready for the body to use. This is unlike folic acid, which needs further processing after ingestion in the body before it can be utilised. 5-MTHF is more than just folic acid, it is readily bioavailable to the body.
In preparation for a healthy pregnancy, either form of this essential vitamin can be very helpful. Official guidance is to supplement with 400 micrograms. For Bio-Kult Pregnéa we chose the 5-MTHF form to provide maximum benefit for Mum and Baby.
