While conventional medicine may warn about the dangers of overusing or underusing certain medications, it’s too uncommon to focus on the benefits of a perceived harmful substance. For instance, nicotine can result in positive reinforcement and weight loss when taken due to a doctor’s prescription, while Methylphenidate can improve attention and impulse control.
The same can be said for 5-MTHF, a B vitamin, the methylated form of folate. This vitamin is important for healthy conception, fetal development, prevention of neural tube defects, DNA formation, cell growth, and other vital bodily functions.
Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is a nutrient that is important for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and women who are trying to conceive. B9 supplementation may also be helpful for people who are under a lot of stress or for those who want to maintain normal inflammatory pathways.
But before contacting your ingredients supplier to ensure a steady supply of 5-MTHF, let’s examine its specific gene type and other useful health information:
The MTHFR Gene
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an enzyme that helps to convert folate into 5-MTHF. The MTHFR gene provides instructions to produce its intrinsic enzyme that helps to regulate methylation. Methylation is a process that can cause the body to over- or under-methylate.
Some people have variations in their MTHFR gene that can affect their ability to process folic acid and metabolize homocysteine. Think of each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as a variation of a DNA building block. While some negatively impact health, others can potentially impair gene function.
Foods that are rich in naturally methylated folate include leafy green vegetables. When food manufacturers began adding synthetic B9, also known as folic acid, to foods like white flour, it was noted that several serious health issues began occurring. A portion of the population may be unable to convert folic acid to the active form of folate, 5-MTHF. This can be caused by poor liver function, gut issues, or a variation in the MTHFR gene.
Methylation is a process that is important for many bodily functions, and 5-MTHF is a compound that can help support methylation. However, some people may experience worsening symptoms if they have a gene variation that affects methylation or other issues.
You may become more anxious, irritable, and angry if you supplement with 5-MTHF or any other methylated vitamin. This is because methylation pathways may not be working properly. Talk to a doctor before taking supplements, or conduct genetic testing to identify potential gene variations that could lead to health problems. In this procedure, metabolic testing is done to see how well the body can process nutrients. An organic acid panel looks for signs that the body is not properly breaking down food.
To address the concern of improper methylation, it is important to consume foods rich in methylated folic acid and avoid white flour and sugar. However, the best way to ensure a regular supply of this B9 nutrient in the human body is to contact a reliable ingredients supplier.
Conclusion
If you have gotten yourself tested or have applied learnings in this article that have made you viable to ingest 5-MTHF, contact MTC Industries today! We’re an ingredients supplier that guarantees products based on proven scientific research and high-quality supplements for the food and beverage, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries! Visit our website to download our ingredients brochure today!