Fear of Folic Acid

Articles have been cropping up about the dangers of excessive folic acid intake. This is attention getting, to be sure, since many of our processed foods contain added folic acid to boost their nutritional content. There is an important distinction, however, which is that folic acid is a synthetic form of folate – it has no beneficial action on its own. To become an active folate, which is indeed very important for optimal health, it must be converted by a specific enzyme in the liver. This enzyme is not especially efficient, and some people actually lack it altogether. What has been found is that taking in high levels of folic acid via vitamins, supplements, or eating fortified foods, overloads the system and it is the buildup of this synthetic, non-active folic acid that is causing problems. The solution? Eat plenty of foods containing folates as they are found in nature – dark leafy greans (kale, chard, spinach), beans, peas, and sunflower seeds. For some people on specific medications or with certain health conditions, taking in extra amounts of folate is very important. Several high-quality supplement manufacturers do contain the natural folate in their products. Call us with any questions!!