Folate is a key nutrient involved in many essential processes in the body, particularly within the methylation cycle — a biochemical process that influences everything from detoxification to gene expression. When it comes to fertility and pregnancy, methylation is crucial: inadequate methylation has been linked to various complications such as preeclampsia, miscarriage, neural tube defects, and poor neonatal brain development.
When you conceive (woohoo!), those first tiny four cells begin dividing at an extraordinary rate. By the time you reach 12 weeks of pregnancy, those original cells have multiplied enough to start forming every organ in your baby’s body — and folate plays a starring role in making that happen.
Folate is the general term often used when referring to vitamin B9. When found naturally in food, it’s called dietary folate. The synthetic form used in many supplements and fortified foods is called folic acid. In supplement form, you may also see it labelled as 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) — more on that in a moment!
Before folic acid can be used by the body, it must go through several conversions to become active. First, it is converted to dihydrofolate (DHF), then to tetrahydrofolate (THF) by an enzyme called dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). THF is then converted to L-Methylfolate — the active form of folate the body can actually use — through the enzyme MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase).
L-Methylfolate is vital for methyl donation, a process that supports many important enzymatic reactions in the body.
However, research shows that many people carry genetic variations in the MTHFR gene, which can reduce their ability to convert folic acid efficiently. In these cases, supplementing with 5-MTHF (already in its active form) may help bypass this step. Many good-quality supplement brands now include a combination of 5-MTHF alongside other forms of folate to enhance absorption and effectiveness — though the research on its full clinical benefits is still evolving.
It’s also important to remember that folate doesn’t work alone. For the methylation cycle to function optimally, several co-factors are needed:
In natural medicine, we always view the body as an interconnected whole. No single nutrient works in isolation — just as you can’t bake a cake with only flour! Achieving optimal health (and optimal fertility) requires balance across the entire system
Final Note As always, it’s important to assess your individual needs and seek professional guidance before beginning any supplementation. Your body (and your future baby!) will thank you for a personalised, well-rounded approach.
Sign up to get access to announcements, recipes, special deals and more.
