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SAI’m not a normal person that can let these comments go unchecked. Despite what you may have heard on social media, you should be taking folic acid. And this is not just according to me, a board certified OB/Gyn. It’s the recommendation by ACOG, SMFM, the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics and others.
Methylfolate and folic acid are NOT the same thing. They are both forms of folate, but folic acid is the only form that has been studied and shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, which are abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. It’s possible that methylfolate can reduce the risk as well, but this has not been proven in research studies so we just don’t know if it works as well as folic acid.
And despite what you may have heard on social media, people with MTHFR gene variants do not need a methylfolate or any special type of folate. MTHFR variants are NOT clinically significant and studies have shown that gene variants alone do not significantly change the way your body processes folate. So people with MTHFR variants should still follow the same recommendations for folic acid supplementation in pregnancy as everyone else: consume at least 400 mcg per day of FOLIC ACID.
And while it’s ideal to get folate from dietary sources as much as possible, the reality is that most people are not getting adequate amounts in their diet, which is why supplementation is important.
So don’t buy into the hype. If you’re trying to conceive or in early pregnancy, take a prenatal vitamin daily and make sure you’re getting at least 400 mcg of folic acid with it.
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#fertilitydoctor #folicacid #folate #mthfr #prenatalvitamins #prenatal #fertilityjourney #ttcjourney #fertilitytips
@sanazghazalmd
