• Find Us On Facebook

L-Methylfolate & Pregnancy

700% More Bioavailable Than Regular Folic Acid

L-Methylfolate & Pregnancy

Folic Acid is a key B Vitamin required by your body for the repair and production of new cells; particularly during pregnancy. Folic Acid is proven to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly by as much as 70% if taken at least 1 month before pregnancy.

Regular folic acid undergoes a 4-step enzymatic conversion process to achieve L-methylfolate - the active form of folic acid used by your body. Dihydrofolate Reductase (DHFR) converts folic acid to dihydrofolate (DHF), DHF is then converted to tetrahydrofolate (THF), THF is converted to 5,10-methylene THF, and the last conversion step involves Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) converting 5,10-methylene THF to L-methylfolate.

Unfortunately, over 50% of people have a MTHFR genotype variation and are unable to fully convert regular folic acid to L-methylfolate. This limited absorption results in a significant reduction in the amount of L-methylfolate made available to your body; limiting your ability to build and maintain healthy reserves of folic acid and significantly increasing your risk of birth defects.

Introducing FolaPure™ (L-methylfolate) - the active form of folic acid which can be immediately absorbed by your body. FolaPure™ (L-methylfolate) is not affected by MTHFR genotype variations and does not undergo enzymatic conversion. This active form of folic acid is proven to be up to 700% more bioavailable than regular folic acid.

L-methylfolate vs Folic Acid

L-methylfolate is also proven to lower levels of homocysteine - an amino acid linked to cardiovascular disease and more importantly, pregnancy complications. Such pregnancy complications include: preeclampsia, low birth weight, miscarriage, recurrent pregnancy loss, placental abruption and premature fetal development.

Of women who give birth to a child with a NTD, approximately 20% are unable to fully convert regular folic acid to L-methylfolate; highlighting the advantage of FolaPure™ (L-methylfolate) over regular folic acid, and the importance of supplementing with FolaPure™ (L-methylfolate) from preconception through to breastfeeding.

Vertili™ is formulated with 1000mcg of FolaPure™ (L-methylfolate) per serving - 125% of the RDI for pregnant women; meeting your prenatal folic acid requirements before, during, and after pregnancy.

References

  1. Scholl, T.O., et al., Dietary and serum folate: their influence on the outcome of pregnancy. Am J Clin Nutr, 1996. 63(4): p. 520-5.
  2. Bower, C. and F.J. Stanley, Dietary folate as a risk factor for neural-tube defects: evidence from a case-control study in Western Australia. Med J Aust, 1989. 150(11): p. 613-9.
  3. Tamura, T. and M.F. Picciano, Folate and human reproduction. Am J Clin Nutr, 2006. 83(5): p. 993-1016.
  4. Leyva, M., Folic acid intake and its effects on the prevention of neural tube defects, the masking of vitamin B12 deficiency and the reduction of homocysteine. J Okla State Med Assoc, 2002. 95(5): p. 339-42.
  5. Wen, S.W., et al., Folic acid supplementation in early second trimester and the risk of preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2008. 198(1): p. 45 e1-7.
  6. Hopkins, P.N., et al., Higher plasma homocyst(e)ine and increased susceptibility to adverse effects of low folate in early familial coronary artery disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 1995. 15(9): p. 1314-20.
  7. Guerzoni, A.R., et al., Homocysteine and MTHFR and VEGF gene polymorphisms: impact on coronary artery disease. Arq Bras Cardiol, 2009. 92(4): p. 263-8.
  8. Mills, J.L., et al., Homocysteine and neural tube defects. J Nutr, 1996. 126(3): p. 756S-760S.
  9. Mills, J.L., et al., Homocysteine metabolism in pregnancies complicated by neural-tube defects. Lancet, 1995. 345(8943): p. 149-51.
  10. Molloy, A.M., D.G. Weir, and J.M. Scott, Homocysteine, folate enzymes and neural tube defects. Haematologica, 1999. 84 Suppl EHA-4: p. 53-6.
  11. Kirke, P.N., et al., Impact of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on risk of neural tube defects: case-control study. BMJ, 2004. 328(7455): p. 1535-6.
  12. Sutton, M., et al., Maternal folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels in pregnancies affected by congenital malformations other than neural tube defects. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol, 2011. 91(7): p. 610-5.
  13. Tamura, T., et al., Maternal serum folate and zinc concentrations and their relationships to pregnancy outcome. Am J Clin Nutr, 1992. 56(2): p. 365-70.
  14. Lucock, M.D., et al., The methylfolate axis in neural tube defects: in vitro characterisation and clinical investigation. Biochem Med Metab Biol, 1994. 52(2): p. 101-14.
  15. Klerk, M., et al., MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism and risk of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis. JAMA, 2002. 288(16): p. 2023-31.
  16. Milunsky, A., et al., Multivitamin/folic acid supplementation in early pregnancy reduces the prevalence of neural tube defects. JAMA, 1989. 262(20): p. 2847-52.
  17. Blom, H.J., et al., Neural tube defects and folate: case far from closed. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2006. 7(9): p. 724-31.
  18. Smithells, R.W., Neural tube defects: prevention by vitamin supplements. Pediatrics, 1982. 69(4): p. 498-9.
  19. Werler, M.M., S. Shapiro, and A.A. Mitchell, Periconceptional folic acid exposure and risk of occurrent neural tube defects. JAMA, 1993. 269(10): p. 1257-61.
  20. Mulinare, J., et al., Periconceptional use of multivitamins and the occurrence of neural tube defects. JAMA, 1988. 260(21): p. 3141-5.
  21. Shaw, G.M., et al., Periconceptional vitamin use, dietary folate, and the occurrence of neural tube defects. Epidemiology, 1995. 6(3): p. 219-26.
  22. Willems, F.F., et al., Pharmacokinetic study on the utilisation of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and folic acid in patients with coronary artery disease. Br J Pharmacol, 2004. 141(5): p. 825-30.
  23. Eskes, T.K., Possible basis for primary prevention of birth defects with folic acid. Fetal Diagn Ther, 1994. 9(3): p. 149-54.
  24. Wilson, R.D., et al., Pre-conceptional vitamin/folic acid supplementation 2007: the use of folic acid in combination with a multivitamin supplement for the prevention of neural tube defects and other congenital anomalies. J Obstet Gynaecol Can, 2007. 29(12): p. 1003-26.
  25. Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study. MRC Vitamin Study Research Group. Lancet, 1991. 338(8760): p. 131-7.
  26. Czeizel, A.E. and I. Dudas, Prevention of the first occurrence of neural-tube defects by periconceptional vitamin supplementation. N Engl J Med, 1992. 327(26): p. 1832-5.
  27. Czeizel, A.E., The primary prevention of birth defects: Multivitamins or folic acid? Int J Med Sci, 2004. 1(1): p. 50-61.
  28. Vergel, R.G., et al., Primary prevention of neural tube defects with folic acid supplementation: Cuban experience. Prenat Diagn, 1990. 10(3): p. 149-52.
  29. Boushey, C.J., et al., A quantitative assessment of plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease. Probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA, 1995. 274(13): p. 1049-57.
  30. Lamers, Y., et al., Red blood cell folate concentrations increase more after supplementation with [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate than with folic acid in women of childbearing age. Am J Clin Nutr, 2006. 84(1): p. 156-61.
  31. Jacques, P.F., et al., Relation between folate status, a common mutation in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, and plasma homocysteine concentrations. Circulation, 1996. 93(1): p. 7-9.
  32. Frelut, M.L., et al., Relationship between maternal folate status and foetal hypotrophy in a population with a good socio-economical level. Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 1995. 65(4): p. 267-71.
Vertili Pregnancy Guide

Please enter a valid e-mail address

Loading...
Thank you; please check
your e-mail!
Vertili Product Information
Pregnancy Guide
Vertili Questions