Meet the Vitamins: Folate [Levmefolate]
... The first post in the diet --> mood series of posts.
Folate Molecule - credit: Ben Mills via Wikipedia
Levomefolate is important because it helps our brains make certain chemicals called monoamines. These include serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which help regulate our mood. If someone doesn't have enough levomefolate, they might not make enough of these chemicals, which could lead to depression.
In fact, many people with depression have been found to have low levels of folate.
But what’s folate?
Folate is a type of vitamin that comes in different forms. One of these forms is called levomefolate, which is the version of folate that our bodies can use directly. Folic acid is a man-made version of folate that you might find in vitamins or in foods like cereal that have extra vitamins added to them. Dihydrofolate is the type of folate that naturally occurs in the foods we eat. If you’ve been through pregnancy, it’s likely you were suggested to supplement folic acid during your pregnancy.
Whether folic acid or dihidrofolate, our bodies need to change the initial molecule into levomefolate before it can use it. This process involves a bunch of steps and different enzymes, which are like tiny machines in our bodies that help with chemical reactions. One of these enzymes is called MTHFR. If someone has a version of the MTHFR enzyme that doesn't work very well, they might not be able to make enough levomefolate.
Levomefolate also helps our bodies turn a chemical called homocysteine into another one called methionine. If someone has too much homocysteine, it could lead to problems like heart disease, dementia, and other health issues. But if they get enough folate, it can help keep their homocysteine levels in check.
Actionable Insight: When thinking about how to ensure folate is in your diet, consider the foods you’re eating. Dihydrofolate is found in dark green veggies like spinach, beans and legumes like lentils; nuts like almonds; orange juice; and organ meats (especially liver). So, if you eat these foods, you're helping your body get the folate it needs to stay healthy!
So, in short, folate is a really important vitamin that our bodies need to keep our brains and bodies healthy