Tag: Synthetic folic acid

Since 1998, mandatory food fortification has been implemented in countries like the U.S. to add synthetic folic acid to the food supply to reduce neural tube defects. This has made it common to find this vital nutrient in many everyday foods, often marked as "enriched" or "fortified".

While fortified nutritional yeast is lauded for its added B vitamins, including B12, emerging research highlights potential downsides associated with its synthetic ingredients. Understanding these risks can help consumers make more informed dietary choices, especially for those with specific genetic predispositions or health concerns.

Research suggests that up to 60% of the population may carry a common gene variant that affects how they process folic acid, the synthetic form of vitamin B9. This compromised metabolic process is one key reason certain individuals can't digest folic acid properly, leading to potential health issues.

According to the NIH, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for synthetic folic acid for adults is 1,000 micrograms (mcg) per day. This means taking 1000mg of folate—a dose 1000 times higher than the UL—is profoundly dangerous and can have severe health consequences.