Tag: Pcft transporter

Approximately 50% of naturally occurring folate from food is bioavailable, while nearly 100% of folic acid in supplements is absorbed. The critical nutrient folate is primarily absorbed in the proximal sections of the small intestine, specifically the duodenum and jejunum, through a carrier-mediated, pH-dependent process involving the Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter (PCFT).

While synthetic folic acid is highly bioavailable, natural food folates have a lower absorption rate, at roughly 50%, due to the body’s processing requirements. This highlights a key nutritional difference in how folate is broken down in the gastrointestinal tract.