Folate 101: (Deficiency, Folic Acid vs Methylfolate, & Methylation)

Learn how to predict & prevent heart attack & stroke:

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ABOUT THIS VIDEO: In this video, we first discuss things related to folate deficiency (folate vs folic acid, methylfolate, megaloblastic anemia, spina bifida). Then we segue to homocysteinemia and diabetic retinopathy. The one issue that connects them all: methylation.
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ABOUT DR. BREWER:
Dr. Brewer started as an Emergency Doctor. After seeing too many preventable heart attacks, he went to Johns Hopkins to learn Preventive Medicine. While there, he went on the run the post-graduate training program (residency) in Preventive Medicine. From there, he made a career of practicing and managing preventive medicine and primary care clinics. His later role in this area was Chief Medical Officer for Premise, which has close to 1,000 primary care/prevention clinics. He was also the Chief Medical Officer for MDLIVE, the second largest telemedicine company. More recently, he founded PrevMed, a heart attack & stroke prevention clinic.

At PrevMed, we focus on heart attack, stroke, and cognitive decline. We serve patients who have already experienced an event as well as those who have not developed a diagnosis or event. Dr. Brewer provides services via telemedicine or in-person if you're in the Lexington, KY area. We find a lot of undiagnosed prediabetes or insulin resistance. Treating unrecognized risk factors like prediabetes allows the reduction of risk and prevention of disease.

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[justsomeguy]

Thanks for this interesting video, Doc! I've watched several videos on folic acid on your channel & other channels, but I have a problem I can't seem to find the answer to.

Living in a country where supplement use is rare, supplement variety is limited and expensive, I have trouble finding supplements such as methylfolate or SAM-e. I have to buy supplements from pharmacies. Usually these are multi formulations. Some are so-called immune boosters, or arthritis formulas, etc. I use 3 or 4 formulations, all of which contain folic acid. I therefore get several (around 3) mg a day of folic acid. I don't know my MTHFR status, but regardless, I believe that excess folic acid isn't good, so I'm looking for a way to counter my high intake. One way I know of is to take a methylator at the same time as I take folic acid. As I can't get methylfolate or SAM-e (or TMG, MSM, etc), how else can I counter the effects of ingesting high levels of folic acid? Any thoughts? Would folic acid dissolved in yogurt, kefir, or apple cider vinegar be taken up and converted by probiotic bacteria to a more bioavailable form?

Thanks so much and I hope you find time to respond.

[DegreesWest]

Great video!! I would be interested in a video by James West in this issue.

[akanecortich]

It has been suggested that Glycine is the better option for dealing with methylation than niacin. I'm confused over this. still needing some seek some research to clear this up;.

[akanecortich]

So I just ordered some TMG glycine to go with my Niacin, to negate the possibility of liver damage, unlikely unless susceptible and taking large amounts, which you would if medicating for Cholesterol or depression. However TMG has some great effects by itself anyway, and is relatively cheap.

[Kracus]

I've checked your database and can't see that you've ever talked about supplementing with something called D - Ribose for cardiovascular disease prevention... What do you think about this theory ????

[erikpaul]

Wow!! Someone actually pronounced "ophthalmologist" correctly.

[billbucktube]

My transverse fasciculi for my ring finger tendon has become inflamed.
There are ORAC scores for antioxidants.
So many items are "anti-inflammatory" curcumin/turmeric, omega 3 oil, etc but there is no context.
I'm looking to lower the inflammation like I did previously using anti-inflammatories rather than nsaids, I can't find my notes about it.
I'm thinking that there is a possibility that one teaspoon of turmeric may be more effective than say drinking kefir.
Without a score it is tough to compare item's anti-inflammatory properties against another item.
Thanks

[farrokhfarr]

another fantastic point . by the way you were right. on my OGGT . i got a new test totally different with the first test . i was moving around in the time of the test. thank you good doctor

[akanecortich]

I note that one practitioner out there found that taking 50mg Niacin every 30 minutes could negate bad side effects of taking methylfolate, if that happened.

[dougiequick]

Sounds so much like Bill Clinton ...which is a complement even if you don't like Bill's politics....noone can honestly deny what a greater speaker that man is...just saying this guy sounds so much like Bill speaking....the rythim and accent

[furiousdoe]

Doc ..I cannot find "Restore Me" .... any link pls . .