What is the most bioavailable form of folate?
About 85% of supplemental folic acid, when taken with food, is bioavailable [2,4]. When consumed without food, nearly 100% of supplemental folic acid is bioavailable. Dietary supplements containing 5-methyl-THF (also called methylfolate), a reduced form of folate, are also available.
What is the natural form of folate?
Folate is the naturally occurring form of vitamin B9. Its name is derived from the Latin word “folium,” which means leaf. In fact, leafy vegetables are among the best dietary sources of folate. Folate is a generic name for a group of related compounds with similar nutritional properties.
Is folate a coenzyme?
The vitamin, folic acid, is converted to its coenzyme form, tetrahydrofolic acid, by a pyridine nucleotide-dependent enzyme, dihydrofolate reductase.
What is the UL of folate?
The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for folic acid was established at 1,000 mcg/day (one-fifth of the LOAEL) to prevent individuals from taking so much folic acid that they reach the LOAEL risk level of 5,000 mcg/day 15.
What is bioavailable folate?
Folate bioavailability is defined as the proportion of an ingested amount of folate that is absorbed in the gut and that becomes available for metabolic processes. In human intervention studies, relative bioavailability is usually assessed by comparison with a reference dose of folic acid.
Which is more bioavailable folate or folic acid?
However, there is broad agreement that food folate is less bioavailable than folic acid with a median relative bioavailability of 65% (range: 44–80%), an estimate that approximates the 60% value derived from the DFE equation.
Is folate and B12 the same thing?
Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is found in foods from animals, such as red meat, fish, poultry, milk, yogurt, and eggs. Folate (Vitamin B9) refers to a natural occurring form of the vitamin, whereas folic acid refers to the supplement added to foods and drinks.
Is folate a macronutrient or micronutrient?
Macronutrients are the compounds that humans consume in largest quantities, mainly classified in carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Micronutrients are instead introduced in small quantities, but they are required for an adequate growth in the pediatric age, especially zinc, iron, vitamin D and folic acid.
What is the function of vitamin B9?
Vitamin B9, also called folate or folic acid, is one of 8 B vitamins. All B vitamins help the body convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy. These B vitamins, often referred to as B-complex vitamins, also help the body use fats and protein.
What is a high level of folate?
High values High levels of folate in the blood may mean that you eat a diet rich in folate or folic acid, take vitamins, or take folic acid pills. Consuming more folate than the body needs does not cause problems. High folate levels can also mean a vitamin B12 deficiency. Body cells need vitamin B12 to use folate.
Is it true that folate is a water soluble vitamin?
For a reader-friendly overview of Folate, see our consumer fact sheet on Folate. Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.
What are the Recommended Dietary Allowances for folate?
Table 1: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Folate [2] Age Male Female Birth to 6 months* 65 mcg DFE* 65 mcg DFE* 7–12 months* 80 mcg DFE* 80 mcg DFE* 1–3 years 150 mcg DFE 150 mcg DFE 4–8 years 200 mcg DFE 200 mcg DFE
How does folate play a role in cancer prevention?
Evidence also indicates that folate might play a dual role in cancer initiation and progression . That is, folate might suppress some types of cancer during the early stages of development, whereas high doses of folic acid taken after preneoplastic lesions have been established might promote cancer development and progression.
What’s the difference between vitamin B9 and folate?
“Folate,” formerly known as “folacin” and sometimes “vitamin B9,” is the generic term for naturally occurring food folates, and folates in dietary supplements and fortified foods, including folic acid. Food folates are in the tetrahydrofolate (THF) form and usually have additional glutamate residues, making them polyglutamates [ 1 ].