PRENATALS

Folate vs. Folic Acid During Pregnancy: Which Should I Choose in My Prenatal?

by Cara Everett, MS, RDN, LDN • May 20, 2024 • 6-7 minute read

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References

  1. National Institutes of Health. Folate. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-Consumer/ Published November 1, 2022. Accessed May 13, 2024.
  2. National Cancer Institute. L-methylfolate. Accessed May 13, 2024. 
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Folic acid. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/index.html Published December 20, 2022. Accessed May 13, 2024.
  4. Medline Plus. What is a gene variant and how do variants occur? https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/mutationsanddisorders/genemutation/ Updated March 25, 2021. Accessed May 13, 2024.
  5. Centers for Disease COntrol and Prevention. MTHFR gene, folic acid, and preventing neural tube defects. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/mthfr-gene-and-folic-acid.html Published June 15, 2022. Accessed May 13, 2024.
  6. Obeid R, Holzgreve W, Pietrzik K. Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate an alternative to folic acid to prevent neural tube defects? J Perinatal Med 2013;41(5). https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2012-0256
  7. Vidmar GM, Šmid A, Karas KN, Trontelj J, Geršak K, Mlinarič-Raščan I. Folate insufficiency due to MTHFR deficiency is bypassed by 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. J Clin Med 2020;9(9):2836. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9092836

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of my baby getting the proper nutrients?

Good nutrition is essential for every stage of your baby’s growth and development. But the efficiency with which your body metabolizes nutrients is partly determined by your genes, and common genetic variants can affect the metabolism of one-carbon nutrients that are critical for the development of your child’s brain and spinal cord. Genate Essential Prenatal Nutrition is a multivitamin formulated from academic research that provides women with a formulation optimized to support their baby’s cognitive development. It includes the one-carbon nutrients choline, betaine, methylfolate, and B vitamins that many women have trouble metabolizing and/or don’t get enough of in their diet. 

What are one-carbon nutrients and fatty acids, and why are they important?

One-carbon nutrients and fatty acids are critical for brain and spinal cord development during pregnancy and through the first two years of life. Although all nutrients are important, the one-carbon nutrients choline, folate, betaine, and B vitamins, along with the omega-3 fat DHA, provide the building blocks for proper growth of your developing baby's brain. Research at Cornell and Harvard universities has shown cognitive benefits for children born to mothers who received increased levels of one-carbon nutrients during pregnancy, demonstrating that optimal nutrition during pregnancy can have lasting effects for your baby.

If I buy Genate nutrition supplements, do I still need to take the test?

Genetic testing is a personal choice, and only you can decide what’s best for you and your baby. But the Genate Test is a powerful tool for optimizing your nutrition status, as it identifies genetically-caused metabolic inefficiencies that may influence your body’ ability to make and use the nutrients critical for your baby’s cognitive development. If you have SNPs in any of the nutrient pathways tested, your Genate Report will provide personalized recommendations for optimizing your nutrition. Our registered dietitians can show you how to fill in the gaps with foods and supplementation, if needed, to make sure you’re getting the nutrition you and your baby need.