For Your Health

[Past and present]

***How folate affects the brain and nervous system..

..Folate has long been known to help support production of nervous system function, and in particular, production of messaging molecules that are used by nerves to send signals throughout out body. More recently, however, research has broadened our understanding in this area of folate benefits.

..In what has come to be named the BH4 Cycle (where is an abbreviation for tetrahydrobiopterin), researchers have verified a close connection between production of multiple neurotransmitters (with special emphasis on serotonin and dopamine) and availability of folate.

..In fact, part of the molecule for which this BH4 Cycle is named (dihydrobiopterin, or BH2) can itself be readily converted into a form of folate (dihydrofolate). In addition, researchers now know that BH4 cross over the blood brain barrier using the same transport mechanism as folate.

..Interest in these nervous system messaging molecules and folate has been fascinating and widespread. Since much of the dopamine produced in our nerve cells begins with conversion of one amino acid (phenylalanine) into another amino acid (tyrosine), folate availability has been shown to be closely connected with this neurotransmitter pathway since BH4 is required for conversion of phenylalanine into tyrosine.

..Yet broader still are possible connections between two additional neurotransmitters—glutamic acid and GABA—and folate metabolism.

..Glutamine is the preeminent amino acid in our central nervous system, and it is the starting point for production of both glutamic acid and GABA.

..While glutamic acid is widely known as an "excitatory" neurotransmitter that can stimulate and speed up nerve cell activity, it actually plays a much wider role in nervous system health that includes proper brain development, differentiation of nerve cells, and survival of nerve cells.

..By contrast, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is widely regarded as a primary inhibitory neurotransmitter that can decrease nerve activity in certain areas and help initiate nervous system balance needed to pave the way for activities like sleep. Researchers do not yet know exactly how folate metabolism is related to metabolism of either glutamic aid or GABA.

..But what researchers do know is that folate is a B vitamin that contains a "tail" comprised of glutamic acid molecules. In fact, this glutamic acid vitamin "tail" controls absorption of folate from our intestines up into our body.

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