3rd Trimester Prenatal Pack

Although they sound similar, folate and folic acid are not one in the same. Folate refers to the water soluable vitamin in its natural or methylated form, which is the most bioavailable for our bodies. Folic acid is the synthetic version which requires processing by the body to become active into the Folate form, which is then available for absorption. Given how vital folate is to an early stage pregnancy and that up to 60% of women are unable to effectively process folic acid, we use a methylated folate, which is easily absorbed by the body requiring no added processes for your body or your liver.

We rely heavily on the research and insights of our medical co-founder, a practicing OBGYN, as well as our panel of doctors and experts. One of our panel members, Dr. Amber Samuel, a maternal fetal medicine specialist, has shared this insight and research with us for when this question comes up: "Folic acid being less expensive and synthetic lead to the terms folate and folic acid being interchangeable, but science shows us that the end result and goal are the body having additional folate building blocks. We know that while everyone has to convert folic acid for it to be useful (an added step decreasing bioavailability) some women cannot due to MTHFR mutations. The Perelel source of L-5 methylfolate is the same as folic acid and more bioavailable as seen in many studies including https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20608755/."

A direct quote from this study is the below as well for reference: "Studies comparing L-5-methyl-THF and folic acid have found that the two compounds have comparable physiological activity, bioavailability and absorption at equimolar doses. Bioavailability studies have provided strong evidence that L-5-methyl-THF is at least as effective as folic acid in improving folate status, as measured by blood concentrations of folate and by functional indicators of folate status, such as plasma homocysteine. Intake of L-5-methyl-THF may have advantages over intake of folic acid."

All of our products are manufactured in the USA at high-quality partners that follow FDA's current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) to ensure quality and safety. Our ingredients are sourced throughout the world to ensure we have the cleanest and most bioavailable formats of each vitamin or mineral.