Folic Acid
(& why you should avoid it)
How the most abundant food additive in our diet today affects Digestion, Anxiety, Depression, Brain Fog, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, ADHD, Falling Asleep, Staying Asleep, Feeling Tired But Wired, Heartburn, Bloating, OCD, Allergies, and Post-Partum Depression.
Want to help get Folic Acid out of our food supply?
Let's demand a real change. Click here to share our petition flyer with friends, family, or on social media. We appreciate your help!
Here's more information to help you decide for yourself if Folic Acid may be harming you and your family's health.
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What is DNA?
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What is the Methylation Cycle?
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What are the Differences between Synthetic and Natural Vitamins?
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History of Food Enrichment
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What are the symptoms of excess Folic Acid?
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Genetic Mutations and how are affected by Folic Acid
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Is Folic Acid actually helping to prevent Neural Tube Defects?
Folic Acid and DNA Overview
What is DNA?
When we are conceived, we get a copy of DNA from each parent. Our DNA consists of 3 billion letters (in order.) That’s about 1,000 encyclopedias worth of data! All those letters are divided into about 21,000 genes. More than 99.9% of our DNA is the same as every other human on the planet, but the approximately 1 million differences make each person unique.
Our whole DNA sequence is contained in the nucleus of EVERY cell in our body. We use sections of our DNA as recipes, to make proteins and carry out other cell functions.
What is the Methylation Cycle?
The Methylation Cycle helps us produce CoQ10, Glutathione, Melatonin, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Dopamine, Serotonin, Creatine, Cysteine, Taurine, and Phosphatidylcholine. This cycle also affects detox pathways, hormone production, and other facets of our health. Our bodies carry out the methylation cycle approximately 1 BILLION times per SECOND.
There are five main genetic mutations which have the greatest effect on our methylation cycle and lack of ability to process folic acid. These mutations are MTHFR, COMT, MTR, MTRR, and AHCY. 44% of people have the MTHFR Gene Mutation, which is the first step of the methylation cycle. 99% of people have MTHFR and/or other DNA Mutations MTR, AHCY, COMT, or MTRR which affect other parts of the methylation cycle. These mutations prevent the breakdown of Folic Acid (synthetic vitamin B9.)
What are the Differences between Synthetic and Natural Vitamins?
Synthetic forms of vitamins are created in a lab, and often are just a small part of a whole vitamin. Often, synthetic forms need to be converted in an extra step in our body to be a usable form. Natural forms of vitamins are found in real foods, or in supplement form are derived from whole foods. Vitamin B9 in its natural form is called Folate, and its synthetic form is called Folic Acid. Because of our genetic mutations, nearly every human has trouble converting Folic Acid to Folate. This results in an excess of Folic Acid in the system, which causes various health problems.
More information can be found here: https://www.drberg.com/blog/avoid-these-synthetic-vitamins
Folic Acid affects YOU!
In 1993, the US Government started adding synthetic folic acid to foods. Folic acid is now the most abundant nutrient in the human diet. The bad news? About 44% of the population has a DNA mutation of the MTHFR gene, which impedes the breakdown of folic acid in the first part of the methylation cycle. But that’s just one of the five main DNA genetic mutations which affect the methylation cycle. Close to 100% of the population has at least one or more of these five mutations - MTHFR, COMT, MTR, MTRR, or AHCY.
What are the symptoms of excess Folic Acid?
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Digestion
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Brain Fog
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High Blood Pressure
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High Cholesterol
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ADHD
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Sleep
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Falling Asleep
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Staying Asleep
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Feeling Tired But Wired
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Heartburn
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Bloating
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OCD
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Post-Partum Depression
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Allergies
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Autism
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What to look for in an Ingredient Label
So how can you spot foods that use artificial or synthetic vitamins? Look for foods that have the words Enriched, Fortified, or Folic Acid in the ingredient list on the label. Also, foods that do not directly specify which form of vitamins are added to their product typically use a synthetic version since they are cheaper.
The term Enriched or Fortified often means Folic Acid, a synthetic form of Vitamin B9 has been added to the product since Folate was lost during processing or was not originally there. While both enrichment and fortification involve adding nutrients to food, enrichment specifically refers to adding nutrients that were present in the food but were lost during processing, like in refined grains. Fortification, on the other hand, refers to adding nutrients that were not originally in the food, or adding more of a nutrient that the food already has. See examples below.
What Foods are Enriched?
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Grains like wheat, rice and corn
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Cereals, bread, flour, pasta, cookies, and crackers (Look at your Cheerios, Oreos, and Cheetos)
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Cheap synthetic multivitamins like Centrum
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Prenatal Vitamins for use during pregnancy
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Energy drinks, electrolyte drinks, protein bars, protein powders, and meal replacement shakes
Go look through your pantry right now if you are at home. Consider throwing away all the foods with Folic Acid, Enriched or Fortified listed on the label. After just 3 days, your sleep may improve! Other folic acid symptoms may resolve after days, weeks or months.
What to Look for Instead?
Become a health detective and start looking at labels. You don’t need to change the types of foods you eat, instead change the brands of the foods you eat. Most grocery stores will have non-enriched options for breads, pastas, crackers, and other grain-based foods.
Choose grains and foods which DO NOT have “fortified, enriched, or folic acid” in the ingredient list. Since adding folic acid (synthetic B9) is cheaper, companies may try to hide it. Choose labels which include the descriptions of B6 (P5P (Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate), B9 (Folate) and B12 (Methylcobalamin.) Become an ingredient detective!
Bottom Line
You might find that your sleep returns to normal within a few days of getting folic acid and enriched foods out of your diet and pantry!
Want to learn more?
Gary Brecka’s interview on Joe Rogan is a great place to start!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3IPGysPyS1rrQDZD9pl2zG
How To Test Your DNA for mutations
Let’s break down how to read a DNA test. If you’ve gotten a DNA test from Ancestry or 23andMe, you can download your raw data from their websites in the form of a .txt file. If you don’t have a DNA report yet, then this is a good place to start. You can also choose to go by symptoms and not test, that’s fine too!
You can then upload your raw data into Genetic Genie Methylation panel. PLEASE, consider making a donation if you do, to keep this service free to everyone. It’s the best report I’ve found in ease of understanding. https://geneticgenie.org/methylation-analysis/
Understanding the Symbols
If you have 2 Normal Genes, it will show as a -/-. If you have a mutation from just one parent, this is called Heterozygous and will read as a +/-. If you have mutations from both parents, it’s called Homozygous and it will read +/+. Folic Acid digestion will be impaired for a gene if you you are heterozygous or homozygous. Sometimes some genes are missing so nothing will be reported. The quality of your original DNA analysis may affect this. Here’s a couple of sample reports.
Bottom Line
The majority of people have at least 1 or more mutations of their methylation pathway.
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DNA Mutations of the Methylation Cycle
(and how they are affected by Folic Acid)
Let’s break down DNA mutations a little further to see how folic acid can have an effect.
We will discuss MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, AHCY, and COMT mutations.
MTHFR Mutation and Sleep Issues
MTHFR is early in methylation cycle, so it may affect all the parts of the cycle if there is a lack of raw materials. The MTHFR mutation is an inability to digest folic acid and convert to the active form of methylfolate. Folic Acid is the most abundant nutrient in the human diet. Much of our grain supply, flour, bread, pasta, cereal, rice and other processed foods are “enriched” or “fortified.” The MTHFR mutation causes the brain to run at twice the speed, while the body is left behind. This leads to feeling "tired but wired", and the common symptoms of ADHD.
Symptoms of MTHFR Mutation
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Generalized anxiety with no specific cause or trigger
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Impaired intestinal motility, inconsistent gut symptoms, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
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Intermittent gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, cramping
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Histamine Intolerance
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Hormonal Issues
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Depression
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Chemical Sensitivites
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Food Sensitivites
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Histamine Intolerance
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Sleep Issues
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ADHD
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OCD
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Feeling "Tired but Wired"
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Allergies
What to AVOID if you suspect a MTHFR mutation
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Folic Acid and Enriched/Fortified Foods
What supplements might help?
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Methylfolate and other methylated B vitamins
Children and MTHFR Mutations
Kids have never known a time when their food hasn’t been corrupted with folic acid. Kids who have trouble focusing or succeeding in school might be affected by a MTHFR mutation. Try switching their sugary fortified cereals at breakfast for ham and eggs instead…within a week you may see huge, positive changes.
What about MTHFR and ADHD?
MTHFR and Adrenal Fatigue:
https://methyl-life.com/blogs/mthfr/mthfr-adrenal-fatigue
Want to learn more about MTHFR?
This short podcast with Gary Brecka will give you an overview.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mthfr-gene-mutation-explained-how-to-know-if-you-have/id1709740887?i=1000639893107
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COMT Mutation and Anxiety
The COMT gene provides instructions for making an enzyme, known as catecholamines. One version of this enzyme is produced by nerve cells in the brain. Other tissues, including the liver, kidneys, and blood, produce a shorter form of the enzyme which helps control the levels of certain hormones. In the brain, the enzyme helps break down certain chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters conduct signals from one nerve cell to another. This is particularily important in the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, which organizes and coordinates information from other parts of the brain. The prefrontal cortex is involved with personality, planning, inhibition of behaviors, abstract thinking, emotion, and working (short-term) memory. To function efficiently, the prefrontal cortex requires signaling by neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. The COMT enzyme helps maintain appropriate levels of these fight or flight neurotransmitters in this part of the brain. Without the methylated forms of B Vitamins, the body cannot make the enzyme to break down these catecholamines.
Symptoms of a COMT Mutation
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Impaired estrogen metabolism
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Extra weight in abdomen
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Water retention
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Feeling "TIred but Wired"
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Perfectionism, OCD, very organized (When we lack organization in the mind, we crave it in the rest of our life)
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Assume the worst about everything
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Sensitivity to texture and sound
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Find people and crowds overwhelming
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Early menopause, breast tenderness, hormonal imbalances
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Fatigue
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Addiction
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Bipolar
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Fibromyalgia
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Thyroid Abnomalities
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Addiction
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Low sex drive
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Tremors
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Brain Fog
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Fatigue
COMT mutations can be divided into subgroups Warrior and Worrier.
Warrior
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Generally have a higher IQ
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Successful entrepreneurs who hate to be micromanaged. (Reliable and thorough. You want this person on your team!)
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Do better on tests
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Better toxin elimination
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Higher estrogen elimination
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Higher incidence of ADHD
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Higher pain tolerance
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Normal magnesium levels
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Normalized B12 and B9 Folate levels
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Even tempered
Worrier
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Slower estrogen elimination
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Estrogen dominance
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Lower pain tolerance
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Increased probability of addiction and anorexia
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PMS worse in females
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Enhanced response to stimulants
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Red face after exercise
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Decreased sweating
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Lower magnesium levels
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Lower intracellular B12 and B9 Folate
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Prone to mood swings and mania
What to AVOID if you suspect a COMT mutation
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Quercetin
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Green Tea
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Elderberry
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Folic Acid and Enriched/Fortified Foods
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Vitamin B12 forms Cyanocobalamin and Methylcobalamin
What supplements might help?
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Methylfolate and other methylated B vitamins
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Vitamin B12 form with Hydroxycobalamin or Adenosilcobalamin
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TMG (Tri-methyl-Glycine): Helps convert homocysteine to methionine and can lower blood pressure
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DIM (3,3′-Diindolylmethane): Helps clear excess estrogen
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Melatonin, GABA, Magnesium, Theanine and 5-methyfolate at night to help with sleep
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SAM-e: If you fall in the Worrier subgroup this may be helpful. Please listen to this podcast before trying, SAMe doesn’t work for everyone
Want to learn more?
This website does a great job of explaining COMT: https://www.xcode.life/comt/what-is-comt-gene-mutation/
Gary Brecka and his fiancé break down her COMT mutation symptoms here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/comt-gene-mutation-how-to-supplement-for-better-sleep/id1709740887?i=1000640509321
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MTR/MTRR Mutations and High Blood Pressure
The symptoms of gene mutations MTR and MTRR are related. People with the MTR mutation have an impaired ability to metabolize homocysteine and convert to methionine. Folic Acid in the diet slows this conversion from homocysteine to methionine even further. Methionine is the amino acid starting point for every building block in the body to make proteins. A buildup/excess of homocysteine in the body causes inflammation. Excess homocysteine irritates the endothelial lining of the blood vessels, which makes them inflamed and swollen. This lowers the internal size of the blood vessels, which leads to high blood pressure (Hyperhomocystenemia.) A deficiency of Pyridoxine (P5P) B6 and Methylated B12 will exacerbate these issues. MTRR regenerates B12 to be used again and again.
Symptoms of MTR mutation
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High Blood Pressure
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Inflammation
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Untreated high blood pressure
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May lead to high levels of depression
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May lead to high levels of anxiety
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Fat accumulation
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Cardiac problems
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Fatty Liver
What to Avoid if you have the MTR/MTRR mutation?
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Folic Acid and Enriched/Fortified Foods
What supplements might help?
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TMG (Tri-methyl-Glycine): Helps convert homocysteine to methionine and can lower blood pressure.
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Methylated B Vitamins
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Extra B12
Want to learn more?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5119914/
https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/mtr-and-mtrr-genes-methylation-cycle-and-the-need-for-vitamin-b12/
Gary Brecka discusses MTR/MTRR in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBhVlOqIIo
AHCY Mutation and Depression
AHCY plays a crucial part in the methylation pathway in breaking down methionine. Impaired methylation cycle regulation due to AHCY mutations can lead to elevated methionine levels. Folic Acid in the diet further slows the breakdown of methionine and exacerbates this issue. The AHCY gene encodes an enzyme for converting S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) to homocysteine and adenosine. Mutations in the AHCY gene can lead to reduced enzyme activity or stability, impairing the methylation cycle.
Possible symptoms of AHCY mutation
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Depression
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Arthritis
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Fibromyalgia
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Ischemic Stroke
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SAM-e deficiency
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Psychomotor delay
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Severe myopathy
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Hypermethioninemia
What causes depression?
Depression may be linked to a lack of serotonin. Some drugs formulated to help with depression are called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.) Because your body may not be making enough serotonin, then SSRIs (in theory) help you recycle it better.
But why not address why serotonin is low in the first place? 90% of serotonin is made in the gut. The gut is affected by a lack of Folate in the diet and an excess of Folic Acid. See the connection? By fixing the gut and restoring the proper pathways, serotonin production can get back to normal and relieve symptoms of depression.
What to Avoid if you have the AHCY mutation?
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Folic Acid and Enriched/Fortified Foods
What supplements might help?
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Methylfolate and other methylated B vitamins. You need these to make proper amounts of stomach acid.
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SAM-e: Please listen to this podcast before trying, SAMe doesn’t work for everyone.
Want to learn more?
Listen to Gary Brecka connect Depression with poor methylation:
Statistics about Mental Health Conditions:
Is Folic Acid really helping to prevent Neural Tube Defects?
Folic Acid was originally added as fortification to the food supply to prevent Neural Tube defects such as Spina Bifida and Anencephaly. According to the CDC, the incidence of these birth defects went from 5-10 cases per 10,000 births, down to 3-7 cases per 10,000 births after fortification. In terms of absolute risk, this is not statistically significant. Please review the difference between absolute risk and relative risk on my blog here: https://www.vigeohealth.net/post/relative-risk-vs-absolute-risk
The CDC's website is full of relative risk numbers which are misleading. Find the chart and more information here: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6401a2.htm
A better way to lower neural tube defects in pregnancy is to provide expectant mothers with Folate, the natural form of vitamin B9. This will lower their risk of birth defects without causing other health issues, like the ones Folic Acid are causing for the population at large.
Dawn's note: Folic Acid is ubiquitous in our diet. Dawn works really hard to avoid Folic Acid, and it's hard to do. It sneaks into so many foods, including a majority of restaurants. If Folic Acid was really making a difference in Neural Tube defects, then the graph below would now be close to zero, because EVERYONE is getting it somewhere in their diet unless they try really hard not to. Shouldn't we investigate the REAL cause of neural tube defects rather than continue to use a synthetic ingredient which is causing more harm than good?
Conclusions about Folic Acid
Thanks for taking the time to understand folic acid and its impact on our food supply and our health. Almost every single person may be negatively affected in some way by the presence of folic acid in our diets. This wasn’t a problem before 1993, when the government started mandating folic acid and enrichment in foods. In fact, we didn’t realize the implications of this until 2001, when the Human Genome project finished sequencing human DNA and made results and testing available to all of us. Now we have hundreds of studies and papers showing how detrimental this one food additive is to our health.
Sources
Associations of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms with 24-hour Urinary Catecholamines in individuals with untreated high blood pressure
MTR and MTRR Genes: Methylation cycle and the need for Vitamin B12
Mtrr hypomorphic mutation alters liver morphology, metabolism and fuel storage in mice
Mitochondrial translation requires folate-dependent tRNA methylation
Journal of Clinical Medicine - Folate Insufficiency Due to MTHFR Deficiency Is Bypassed by 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate
Integrative Medicine – Case Report - Anxiety and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Mutation Treated With S-Adenosyl Methionine and Methylated B Vitamins
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/hydrogen%20cyanide
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1293728/pdf/jrsocmed00105-0046.pdf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24494987/
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6401a2.htm
What can you do?
VOTE with your food choices. Check labels and buy products that are not fortified or enriched with folic acid. You and your family will start to feel better in a myriad of ways. In a week you will see your sleep improve. In a day, week, month or more, you will see other markers of health start to improve as well. Share this flyer with friends, family, and on social media. Thanks so much for your support, we hope that this information will have a benefit to you health and the people around you.