Tag: Dhfr

Genetic variations can impact how the body processes folate, with approximately 60% of the US population having a common variant that affects this pathway. The conversion of supplemental folic acid into a usable form involves a crucial two-step enzymatic process.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all people, including those with an MTHFR gene variant, can process folic acid. However, the efficiency of this process varies among individuals, as it relies on a series of enzymatic reactions needed to convert this synthetic vitamin into its active form.

Folic acid, the synthetic form of vitamin B9 found in supplements and fortified foods, is not biologically active in this state. In order for your body to use it for critical functions like DNA synthesis and cell growth, it must first be converted. So, what does folic acid turn into, and how does this intricate metabolic transformation take place?