Reply To: folate vs folic acid

[Ryann Kipping, MPH, RDN, LDN]

Hey! I would highly recommend reading both the note on folate and the MTHFR note here. L-methyl folate is the most preferred form to supplement with, if not, folate is second best. Folic acid is the synthetic form and has to be converted to folate then L-methyl folate which is then used by our bodies. Even if you don’t have the MTHFR gene mutation, my recommendations stay the same. Folic acid is cheap (again, synthetic) which is why many supplements use it instead of folate.

Keep in mind, doctors are not educated on nutrition, they maybe received one class. I know it is easy to believe anything they say, but the reality is, it is impossible for them to stay up to date on all things obstetrics plus everything on nutrition. I recently did a live with an OBGYN on IG who had no idea of the research that is available in regards to the importance of choline during pregnancy. Again, not their fault , one they don’t have a background in nutrition, two, it’s unlikely they would they find the time to go through hours upon hours of nutrition research. Insert TPNL ( ;