Beli Prenatals are HSA/FSA eligible!

Folate vs. Folic Acid and Why it Matters For Fertility and Pregnancy

folic-acid-vs-folate-during-pregnancy-beli-baby

Medically reviewed by Brooke Boskovich, MS, RD, LDN

Among the key nutrients recommended during preconception, pregnancy and the postnatal period is folate. The term folate is often used interchangeably with folic acid, but while both are a form of vitamin B9, there is an important difference. Here’s what to understand about the difference between folate and folic acid, why it matters for fertility and pregnancy, and which option is best for you.

Folate versus Folic Acid

Like many nutrients, vitamin B9 can be synthesized in slightly different chemical structures. Folic acid, an inexpensive, shelf-stable ingredient that can hang out in stores for a very long time, is the form you’re most likely to see in big-brand vitamins for reasons that often benefit the vitamin company more than the person taking it.

Here’s the thing—this synthetic form of vitamin B9 is easily absorbed, but difficult for your body to use. In order to metabolize folic acid, cells first have to do the extra work of converting it into a usable nutrient. This nutrient conversion process is slow and inefficient, which means that the dose of folic acid you take may not be fully metabolized until the next day, when it’s time to take your vitamin again! 

As you might imagine, that’s an issue. Unmetabolized folic acid in the bloodstream has been associated with a laundry list of health concerns. What’s more, between 25 and 60 percent of the population has a genetic variation that decreases the efficiency of this conversion even further, which means they’re getting well below recommended amounts, if any, even when they dutifully take their vitamins.

The key difference between folate and folic acid is the source. Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 and can be found in leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and eggs. Unfortunately, many of us simply don’t eat a varied enough diet to ensure we’re getting adequate folate, and that deficit becomes particularly problematic if you’re trying to conceive and carry a healthy pregnancy. That’s why the recommendation for men and women of childbearing age who are trying to become parents is to take a prenatal vitamin with enough folate to support healthy fertility, pregnant, and postpartum recovery.

And Beli has you covered.

Bioavailable, Always

To ensure that parents-to-be are getting enough folate in the most absorbable form, Beli prenatal vitamins for men and women use the active, methylfolate form of folic acid known as 5-MTHF. As far back as 2011, nutritionists were recognizing prenatal supplements formulated with bioavailable nutrients, including methylfolate, as a better way to ensure adequate amounts when they’re needed most.

So we followed the science, formulating our supplements with only the most bioavailable ingredient forms for fertility and prenatal support. Beli’s bioavailable form of MTHF folate is ready to rock right away—it doesn’t need to be converted by your cells before your body can put it to use. It’s not feasible to test every single women trying for a baby for the MTHFR gene variation, and the active form of folate used in our supplements ensures adequate levels of this necessary nutrient for everyone. The superior B9 absorption from methylated folate makes sure your body has access to the folate you need for fertility and family, helping you get pregnant, stay pregnant, and deliver a healthy baby.

What about the CDC’s Recommendations?

If you’re doing any digging into the folate-versus-folic-acid debate, you’re bound to run into the CDC’s stance that folic acid is the only type of folate to help prevent neural tube defects. At one time, research did indeed support this. But it takes an average of 17 years to see changes in standard of practice guidelines, and research moves much faster than that. Clinical studies find MTHF may be a safer and more effective alternative to folic acid for preventing neural tube defects. Interestingly, researchers have also confirmed folic acid as a risk factor for infant and child allergic diseases, a link that dramatically increases with maternal folic acid intake during pregnancy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meanwhile, maintains that sufficient folate intake plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of neural tube defects during pregnancy—and there's significant scientific agreement among qualified health experts regarding this matter. Contrary to the belief that folic acid is the sole form of folate that helps in decreasing the incidence of neural tube defects, the FDA takes the position that all biologically active vitamin forms of folate, rather than just synthetic folic acid, are relevant. The big takeaway? The essential factor is maintaining adequate folate levels, achieved through either folic acid or naturally occurring folate.

The Bottom Line

At Beli, we’re committed to science-based recommendations based on the most current peer-reviewed studies. We know you have choices when it comes to prenatal vitamins, and it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out your best option. With Beli, you can trust that we’ve done the research on folate versus folic acid, as well as every other nutrient you need during conception and pregnancy. In addition to safe, effective formulations in the most bioavailable forms, our products are also vegan friendly, gluten and GMO free, made in an FDA-registered facility in the United States, and follow the Good Manufacturing Process Guidelines (CGMP).

Whether you’re trying for a baby or navigating pregnancy, prenatal vitamins should be the last thing you stress about. And when you’re taking Beli prenatals for him and her, you won’t.

Additional Resources

Raise your hand if you already know that you have a biological clock. From age 35 and beyond, there is a natural decline in testosterone and sperm quality. Just as people lose muscle strength, flexibility and endurance with age, sperm also tend to lose their "fitness" over the life cycle. But what does that mean—and does it really matter?

Read More

It’s an easy assumption, but you’re much better off thinking that every prenatal vitamin is wildly different in terms of composition, nutrient quality and, importantly, nutrient amount. Not only is that actually true, it puts you in the smart consumer mindset of understanding what matters in a prenatal vitamin—and why.

Read More

If you have endometriosis, you can already recite its lengthy list of pretty terrible symptoms. And the standard options for managing those symptoms — medications, hormone therapy, hormonal birth control, estrogen blockers, surgery —  aren’t always great. But there is evidence that a so-called “endometriosis diet” can help.

Read More

Men really do benefit from specialized nutrition in the form of a prenatal vitamin that’s formulated to support sperm health. Here’s what that looks like, and how specific nutrients can impact a man’s fertility health before fatherhood.

Read More

Shilajit is finally getting the credit it’s due, and we’re proud to point out that our proprietary formula was the very first to include this powerful Ayurvedic compound. Here’s why shilajit is rapidly becoming the darling of the male fertility world–and what you’re missing if you’re skipping it.

Read More

Ever wondered why men produce so much darn sperm, especially if only one of them will ultimately fertilize the egg? There are millions of sperm in normal ejaculate because it increases the likelihood that one will reach the egg and seal the deal. It begs the question, what exactly happens on the journey to the egg?

Read More

Optimal nutrition plays a pivotal role in enhancing fertility and supporting a healthy pregnancy. A diet rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats, lays the foundation for reproductive health.

Read More

Is there anything unsexier than scheduled, pressure-ridden, trying-like-hell-to-conceive sex? But good news. We’ve found handy workarounds and tricks of the trade, so forget the basal temperature chart for a second and read on for four ways to keep things hot when you’re TTC.

Read More

Just as women’s bodies need to be prepared for pregnancy, men’s bodies need to be ready to contribute healthy sperm for conception. Nutrients are the foundation that support the normal structure and function of sperm and men's fertility health. Taking Beli’s male prenatal supplement is a proactive way to strategically fuel your body to optimize fertility contributing to your overall chances of conceiving and supporting a healthy pregnancy.  

Read More

Diet has been suggested to have an influence on the quality and function of human sperm. More specifically, the results of a randomised trial have shown that including nuts as a component of a regular diet improved the quality and function of human sperm.

Read More

A shot to the balls may be played for laughs on screen, but testicular impacts really aren’t a joke. Worse case scenario, getting hit in the balls can affect fertility thanks to complications like sexual dysfunction, low testosterone and other issues. Let's discuss.

Read More

With the New Year upon us, there are all kinds of articles and videos making the rounds with predictions of the Zodiac signs most likely to get pregnant in 2024. But here at Beli, we take a much more scientific approach to conception. Here are the top eight things people will do to get pregnant in 2024.

Read More

Research shows that the overall health of both biological parents during the preconception window plays a huge role in everything from conception to pregnancy health to the lifetime health of their baby. Luckily, there are simple steps you can both take to improve your health together.

Read More

When it comes to becoming parents, good habits really will take you where you want to go. Now, new science is giving us insight into exactly how long it takes to form those good habits. We're breaking down all the ways you can build healthy habits to boost your chances of conception. Think of it as life-hacking, but for grown-ups.

Read More

Preparing for a baby means doing everything in your power to nourish your fertility health. If you’re totally on board but wondering what that actually means, we’re breaking down the do’s and don’ts for planning a pregnancy.

Read More

Somewhere between the “let’s have a baby!” conversation and seeing those two pink lines, you’re going to end up researching prenatal vitamins. And trust us when we say you’re going to have a ton of options to wade through. Consider this your handy guide to the best prenatal vitamins for men and women in 2024.

Read More

Here at Beli, we’re working hard to raise awareness of the important role men play in the baby-making equation, which brings us to today’s topic of men’s preconception health and specifically, sperm health. Knowing what you’re working with can save you a lot of time, but is at-home sperm testing considered an important part of men’s preconception health? Let’s break it down.

Read More

Most births occur between June and early November. Count back nine months, and you’ll see that places most conceptions in the fall and winter. So what’s the deal? Is it the cold weather, all the festivities, or something else driving us between the sheets? That ugly sweater is pretty cute, but you can chalk this up to reproductive seasonality. Here’s what that means, why it matters, and what to do to use it to your advantage.

Read More

There’s a certain magic to the holiday season, whether you’re all-in on the decorations and the family time or a self-proclaimed Scrooge from mid-November to the New Year. But when you’re trying to conceive, it can be a challenging time.  We’re sharing five tips for managing the holidays when you’re trying to conceive.

Read More

Everyone knows that alcohol and pregnancy don’t mix. But what about before you’re pregnant, during the trying-to-conceive stage? There’s no evidence that the occasional drink—i.e. one or two a week—is going to torpedo your chances of parenthood. But it is true that the more you drink, the greater the likelihood it will have an effect on your health. Here’s what the research says about alcohol and your fertility.

Read More

You’re clear on the mechanics of making a baby, but how much do you really know about conception and fertility? There are a lot of wild stories, downright falsehoods and notions that are actually rooted in a kernel of truth out there. In the interest of sticking to the facts, we’re debunking 15 of the most common myths about conception and fertility.

Read More

When you’re knocking boots in an effort to get knocked up, timing is everything. Your best chance of conceiving is during the most fertile time of your menstrual cycle—when you ovulate. The key is figuring out exactly when that happens. Fortunately, you have a few ways of detecting ovulation. Here’s what to know about understanding ovulation and timing sex for pregnancy.

Read More

You have big plans for parenthood in 2024, which means this is the time to start laying the groundwork for everything to come. While so much of conception is beyond our control, there are actionable steps you and your partner can take right now to support and nourish your fertility.

Read More

Is there anything worse than the two-week wait? All the listicles out there sensibly advise keeping busy and journaling and talking it out, but we’re sharing more specific recommendations collected from the Beli community. Read on for seven tips for surviving the two-week wait without losing your mind.

Read More

Heard the one about ice baths and testosterone? Spoiler: there's little to no research behind that idea. Here’s what to know about cold plunges and male fertility, according to the research, plus where you should really focus your efforts if you’re trying to improve sperm health.

Read More

As a society, we’re an impatient bunch, and that applies to pregnancy, too. The second you decide it’s time to try for a baby, you’re ready to see those two pink lines. If you’ve recently tossed the birth control and you’re wondering how long it should take to get pregnant, here's what to know.

Read More

Jimmy Fallon. Hugh Jackman. Mark Zuckerberg. Keith Urban. Gordon Ramsey. Kyle Busch. Besides immediate name recognition, what else do these men have in common? They’ve all struggled with infertility issues—and it’s something they’re all talking about publicly. Here's why that matters.

Read More

There’s a persistent misconception that a woman’s egg quality is largely untouchable—you get what you get, and the rest is out of your hands. But for women actively planning on becoming mothers, there are a handful of best practices that can go a very long way. So, can you improve egg quality in 90 days?

Read More

Can weight loss improve your fertility? That depends on what you read. In today’s post, we’re running through all the latest data on weight loss and fertility, and clarifying why the focus should be less on pounds lost and more on prioritizing habits that support your health as a whole.

Read More

Perimenopause is a transitional time that’s pretty wild in its own right, with hormonal changes similar to a roller coaster and major changes to your cycle. Balanced hormones are, of course, key to successfully becoming pregnant and it’s certainly reasonable to wonder whether it’s possible to get pregnant during perimenopause. The short answer is oh yes. 

Read More

While it’s true that popular hair loss meds work minor miracles on that receding hairline and back-of-the-head bald patch, it’s also true that it can come with side effects—some of them sexual. So, what does that mean in terms of male fertility? Here’s what couples should understand about the effects of popular hair-loss medications on sperm health.

Read More

A few years ago, the keto diet was all the rage—a high-fat, low-carb way to shed pounds quickly. While it’s lost a bit of its luster, as all diet trends do, interest in the keto diet remains. Specifically, those hoping to become parents wonder whether following this way of eating could support fertility. Is a diet high in fat and low in carbs the answer? It’s possible. Here’s what to know about the keto diet and whether it might help support fertility.

Read More

When you’re pregnant, of course, you’re told to limit your caffeine consumption. But what about when you’re trying to conceive? Can too much caffeine affect your chances of conception as a couple? It's a good idea to cut back—which means you need to be really clear about sneaky sources of caffeine in your diet.

Read More

Shilajit is finally getting the credit it’s due, and we’re proud to point out that our proprietary formula was the very first to include this powerful Ayurvedic compound. Here’s why shilajit is rapidly becoming the darling of the male fertility world–and what you’re missing if you’re skipping it.

Read More

Optimal nutrition plays a pivotal role in enhancing fertility and supporting a healthy pregnancy. A diet rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats, lays the foundation for reproductive health.

Read More

Somewhere between the “let’s have a baby!” conversation and seeing those two pink lines, you’re going to end up researching prenatal vitamins. And trust us when we say you’re going to have a ton of options to wade through. Consider this your handy guide to the best prenatal vitamins for men and women in 2024.

Read More