Folate plays a key role in methylation, a biochemical process of transferring methyl groups to molecules like DNA, proteins and neurotransmitters. This process, which requires nutrients like folate, regulates gene expression, impacts neurotransmitter and hormone balance, supports detoxification and is essential for DNA and cellular repair.
“Think of it like a biological switch that helps our genes function properly and respond to things like environmental factors, diet, stress, without actually changing this DNA sequence itself,” said Lauren Eisen, senior marketing & business development manager of minerals and nutrients at Balchem Human Nutrition & Health. “It’s critical for everything like fetal development, all the way through healthy aging.”
Eisen added that a recent study that used data from NHANES found that those with higher plasma folate have a lower epigenetic age.
“The new research is really showing that the importance of folate has an impact on epigenetic health for your overall health and wellness as well.”
Beyond epigenetic health, folic acid is also gaining attention for its brain health benefits.
“Brain health is becoming a really important category for us that we’re focusing on because folate helps support or regulate homocysteine levels which are linked to cognitive function and mood,” Eisen said. “And balanced methylation supports neurotransmitter synthesis, making folate key for brain health. Keeping homocysteine levels in check is also critical to ensure healthy blood vessel function, which is also important for brain health too.”
Eisen added that folate is especially important for women across her various life stages, supporting reproductive health, fetal development and postmenopausal cellular integrity.
“So folate’s really crucial for pregnancy, infancy, adolescence and all the way through aging—and so for women especially, it supports reproductive health, fetal development and postmenopausal cellular integrity," she said.
Eisen added that females are at risk of being folate deficient, with research finding that 34% of girls 14-to-18 years old and 27% of women 19 and up not getting enough from their diet alone.
To hear more on folate’s role in epigenetics, healthy aging and how Balchem’s Optifolin+ enhances methylation support, listen to the NutraCast above or on your preferred podcast platform.
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