Numerous Benefits Linked To Folate: It Reduces Your Risk Of Everything From Stroke To Heart Disease
Is folate the new 'it' vitamin?
Suddenly, the summer of 2007 seems like the summer of folate, with multiple studies springing up left and right.
There's no mystery as to why folate is getting this sort of attention. Along with other vitamins in the B group (most notably B-6 and B-12) folate has been shown to reduce levels of homocysteine, the amino acid that promotes plaque buildup in arteries. The result: Folate has earned a reputation for helping keep the heart healthy while also reducing risk of stroke and cognitive decline.
Recently I noted that research shows that some people who are depressed may metabolize folate inefficiently. Another recent folate study reveals a promising technique that may quickly raise folate levels by making the vitamin more bioavailable.
Boosting the booster
Last year, research from the University of Bonn showed that a specific derivative of folic acid (the synthetic supplement form of folate) is more bioavailable than a standard folic acid supplement. The derivative is known as [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, which is marketed under the brand name Metafolin.
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