Folate increases inflammation?

[dannybex]

I've seen this mentioned on several sites, but in particular Ben Lynch's MTHFR site where he says:

"If one takes methylfolate before inflammation is controlled, the methylfolate will worsen it."

http://mthfr.net/methylfolate-side-effects/2012/03/01/

I can't seem to find any study or reference that backs this up. I did find this in vitro study that suggests the opposite, but haven't found anything else.

@Valentijn, @caledonia, @Hip…and any others who have brains that haven't turned to complete mush like mine, I'd appreciate your wisdom and input.

Would love to get some clarification on this as it seems like we must all have some degree of inflammation, yet many here on PR are benefiting from methylfolate as well as other forms of folate.

Thanks in advance.

 

[alkt]

the only papers i could find mention inflamation as a causal factor in the lack of folate uptake. basically your bodies lack of nutrients is due to inflamation that is already there. if like an estimated 7o+% of people with m e /c f s you have i b s then you will be lacking in various nutrients. should of left this to those with less mushy brains. but that is what i got from the few papers googled.

 

[Seven7]

I would agree by personal experience, I have imflamtion in the head (I feel it and you can see my face left side get bigger) and when I take methilfolate I swell so bad that I cannot be concious. It lasts a few days. I tried a few times and failed.

 

[dannybex]

I would agree by personal experience, I have imflamtion in the head (I feel it and you can see my face left side get bigger) and when I take methilfolate I swell so bad that I cannot be concious. It lasts a few days. I tried a few times and failed.

I'm sorry to hear that. Can I ask how much you're taking?

 

[dannybex]

the only papers i could find mention inflamation as a causal factor in the lack of folate uptake. basically your bodies lack of nutrients is due to inflamation that is already there. if like an estimated 7o+% of people with m e /c f s you have i b s then you will be lacking in various nutrients. should of left this to those with less mushy brains. but that is what i got from the few papers googled.

Yes, that's what I've found as well. Like this in vitro study:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23280395

This one's a little vague (for my mushy brain!):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26263423

And just found this one, which used high-dose folic acid:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25897102

???

 

[Seven7]

I'm sorry to hear that. Can I ask how much you're taking?

I tried everything from 800/6, to all the way to 800mg. Any little bit will give me side effects.

 

[dannybex]

I tried everything from 800/6, to all the way to 800mg. Any little bit will give me side effects.

Interesting. Maybe there's an interaction with some of the drugs you're taking? Florinef is said to lower folate/folic acid, so maybe it does so for a reason. Just a guess of course. Thanks for your reply.

 

[alkt]

Yes, that's what I've found as well. Like this in vitro study:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23280395

This one's a little vague (for my mushy brain!):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26263423

And just found this one, which used high-dose folic acid:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25897102

???

the third study mentioned that folic acid reduces the indicators for inflammation but does not cite that it actually reduces the basal cause of said inflammation. so it might just mask the inflammation. i think more in depth study with some people with inflammatory arthritis would be needed to see if folic acid actually reduced the actual swelling around joints

 

[dannybex]

Yes, perhaps true, but don't some anti-arthritis drugs lower or block folic acid? Methotexrate (sp) for rheumatoid arthritis comes to mind.

Definitely more study is needed!

 

[caledonia]

I've seen this mentioned on several sites, but in particular Ben Lynch's MTHFR site where he says:

"If one takes methylfolate before inflammation is controlled, the methylfolate will worsen it."

http://mthfr.net/methylfolate-side-effects/2012/03/01/

I can't seem to find any study or reference that backs this up. I did find this in vitro study that suggests the opposite, but haven't found anything else.

@Valentijn, @caledonia, @Hip…and any others who have brains that haven't turned to complete mush like mine, I'd appreciate your wisdom and input.

Would love to get some clarification on this as it seems like we must all have some degree of inflammation, yet many here on PR are benefiting from methylfolate as well as other forms of folate.

Thanks in advance.

I've heard this mentioned in terms of CBS. So if CBS is expressed, then taking methyl supps will cause more inflammation (source Shawn Bean, MTHFRsupport), leading to side effects. The treatment is to treat CBS - basically take molybdenum to detox excess sulfur and get that pathway working correctly.

Ben Lynch has two articles on what to do if you get side effects from methylfolate. Part of that is sulfur detox via molybdenum, but he has other ideas too.

He says some people do fine with methylfolate and others don't. I guess that also extends to the ME population even though you would think we would be more compromised.