FOLATE (VITAMIN B9)
Vitamin B9 is an essential nutrient that naturally occurs as folate. It serves many important functions in your body. For example, it plays a crucial role in methylation, neurotransmission, cell growth and DNA formation.
Low levels of vitamin B9 are associated with an increased risk of several health conditions, including:
- Elevated homocysteine. High homocysteine levels have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke
- Birth defects. Low folate levels in pregnant women have been linked to birth abnormalities, such as neural tube defects
- Cancer risk. Poor levels of dietary folate are also linked to increased cancer risk, though higher levels of supplemental and/or serum folate have also been linked with a higher risk of prostate cancer.
Folate is the bioavailable (converted from folic acid via dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme) form of B9 vitamin and has 45 known gene hits. To determine whether you need to "add-in" folate, you can order the GENOMIC INSIGHT test online.
