Full disclosure: all our vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 supplements are methylated. There’s a good reason why.
There’s something called the MTHFR gene. This gene provides instructions to the body to make an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. But that’s too long of a word for anyone to pronounce, so it’s just called MTHFR.
Why the MTHFR Enzyme is Important
This MTHFR enzyme is necessary for many processes in the body including the proper metabolism of B vitamins including folate (vitamin B9), cobalamin (vitamin B12), and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). These B vitamins play so many roles in the body; to find out more, click here.
But about 30 to 40 percent of the population has what’s called a genetic mutation or “gene variant.” To find out if you have the MTHFR gene variant, you can ask your doctor for a MTHFR blood test.
If you do have a gene variant, your body may not optimally metabolize B vitamins. And this could affect not only your absorption levels, but also your health.
Try NBPure’s Methyl B-12 Spray, with the most bioavailable form of vitamin B12
Some research has linked the genetic variant to higher levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, in the blood. Homocysteine is broken down by B vitamins like folate, as well as vitamins B6 and B12. Without the optimal absorption of B vitamins, you may be at risk for higher blood levels of homocysteine. And this may put you at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes.
If you have these gene variants, you may also be at higher risk for dementia, depression, and neuropathy (damage to the nerves).
And what’s more, some research has linked low blood concentrations of these B vitamins to weight gain, an imbalance of lipids like cholesterol, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance.
But you can do something: taking the right form of B vitamins may ensure their proper absorption. It doesn’t mean you negate any risk of health problems. It just sets your body up for getting the proper nutrient absorption needed for better health.
Enter Methylated B Vitamins
At NBPure, we realize that not everyone can take a blood test to determine if they have the MTHFR gene variant. And many may not want to. And that’s okay. That’s why we created B supplements that can be easily absorbed by everyone, whether you have the MTHFR mutation or not.
What’s more, all NBPure B supplements are in a convenient and user-friendly spray form:
- Our Methyl Folate Spray contains folate in its most absorbable or bioavailable form: 5-MTHF l-methylfolate or vitamin B9.
- Our Methyl B-12 Spray contains the most bioavailable form of vitamin B-12: methylcobalamin.
- Our Bx3 Boost contains the most bioavailable forms of folate (methylfolate) and vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) along with vitamin B6. And it has something called TMG or trimethyl glycine.
TMG is a form of the amino acid glycine that helps regulate the amount of homocysteine levels in the blood. Some research also says that it may help enhance exercise performance, prevent insulin resistance, and improve depression. TMG should always be taken with folate and vitamins B6 and B12 as it works synergistically with them.
This BX3 Boost is particularly good for the heart because all these ingredients have been shown to support the optimal metabolism of homocysteine.
What’s more, anytime we at NBPure formulate supplements with these nutrients, we always include the more absorbable and bioavailable methylated forms. That’s why the methylated forms of B vitamins are included in our Multi-Guard+ multivitamin. And methylated vitamin B12 is found in our Stress Away, a mix of nutrients shown to help support the body’s stress response.
At NBPure, we know that getting enough nutrients — through food and/or supplements — is critical for better health of body and mind. If you are going to take vitamin B supplements, ensuring that the folate and vitamins B6 and 12 in them are methylated will help them be better absorbed by the body
