EXPERTS are urging women planning a pregnancy or in the early stages of one to take folic acid, which has been proven to help prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida, rather than methylfolate.
A growing number of supplement companies have developed prenatal formulations that contain methylfolate instead of folic acid, marketing it as being more bioavailable or easier to absorb, and therefore a better choice.
Supplements containing methylfolate are usually more expensive than folic acid.
However, obstetricians have pointed out that folic acid is the only form of folate shown in clinical trials to help prevent neural tube defects.
They also point out that methylfolate is not as stable as folic acid - it is more susceptible to light and temperature, which may affect its potency.
"Folic acid is available OTC and is very cheap, and we know it works," obstetrician Associate Professor Alexis Shub told Australian Doctor.
"We strongly recommend people use that rather than any variants," she stated.
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