5 replies to this topic

[YOLF]

So is it worth supporting this?

 

I seem to remember reading a study some time ago when I was researching the Patton Protocol which said supplementation with an excess of 800mcg in the elderly would cause brain lesions. I can't remember if they said it was folate of folic acid. Does anyone have the studies or know where they are?

 

http://www.thepetiti.../?z00m=20970098

[Blankspace]

Here is the Food Labeling revision on folic acid:

https://www.federalr...cts-labels#h-78

 

I don't see the harm in what they're proposing, to me is seems like an effort towards more specific labeling between folic acid & folate.

Perhaps it's this line that's giving people concern?

 

Consistent with the proposed amendments related to the units of measure for folate that take into account the differences between folate and folic acid, we are reconsidering appropriate terms for declaration of folate content in foods and dietary supplements. We are proposing to (1) eliminate the synonym “folacin” specified in §§ 101.9©(8)(v) and 101.36(b)(2)(B)(2); (2) require, in proposed § 101.9©(8)(vii), that the term “folate” be used in the labeling of conventional foods that contain either folate only or a mixture of folate and folic acid; and (3) require that the term “folic acid” be used in the labeling of dietary supplements only. As proposed, conventional foods would not be permitted to use the term “folic acid.”

 

As far as the excess folate issue, I haven't seen any literature suggesting brain lesions. There is however some evidence that folic acid aggravates vitamin B12 deficiencies:

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/17972439

Edited by Blankspace, 10 April 2014 - 07:24 PM.

[niner]

No, we shouldn't support this petition.  I don't think the petition organizers even understand the proposed amendment.  As I read it, foods would not be allowed to use the term "folic acid", but supplements would.  There's nothing in the wording posted by Blankspace that says supplements would be forbidden from using the term "folate", if they are so inclined.

 

CC, you probably shouldn't repeat that brain lesion claim without some supporting evidence- it is almost certainly not correct.

 

We might want to support the petition for a completely different reason, however.  By requiring food producers to use the term "folic acid" for ALL forms of the vitamin, there is no longer any way to tell if it's the natural form, which currently goes by the name "folate", or if it is the synthetic version, a completely different molecule, that for some bizarre reason is at present known as "folic acid".  The bizarreness stems from the fact that in chemistry, "-ate" implies the ionized form of an acid, while the "-ic acid" form implies the un-ionized version of the same compound.  To use these terms for two different molecules is just wrong, and the FDA is compounding the error with their proposed change.

 

Just more reason not to eat processed food...

[Strelok]

 

Just more reason not to eat processed food...

 

And take 5-MTHF?

[YOLF]

No, we shouldn't support this petition.  I don't think the petition organizers even understand the proposed amendment.  As I read it, foods would not be allowed to use the term "folic acid", but supplements would.  There's nothing in the wording posted by Blankspace that says supplements would be forbidden from using the term "folate", if they are so inclined.

 

CC, you probably shouldn't repeat that brain lesion claim without some supporting evidence- it is almost certainly not correct.

 

We might want to support the petition for a completely different reason, however.  By requiring food producers to use the term "folic acid" for ALL forms of the vitamin, there is no longer any way to tell if it's the natural form, which currently goes by the name "folate", or if it is the synthetic version, a completely different molecule, that for some bizarre reason is at present known as "folic acid".  The bizarreness stems from the fact that in chemistry, "-ate" implies the ionized form of an acid, while the "-ic acid" form implies the un-ionized version of the same compound.  To use these terms for two different molecules is just wrong, and the FDA is compounding the error with their proposed change.

 

Just more reason not to eat processed food...

 

It bothers me that I know I read the article and can't find it anymore...

[niner]

It bothers me that I know I read the article and can't find it anymore...

 

I looked around, and all I can find regarding the elderly and folate is that they need more of it.  Low folate in the elderly results in a higher level of Silent Brain Infarctions, for example.