Folate supplementation boosts energy levels
8.0Strong
evidence
evidence
The Claim
Some people claim that taking folate supplements can increase energy levels, similar to how vitamin B12 is believed to combat fatigue.
Origin
This myth may stem from the general association of B vitamins with energy production and metabolism, often reinforced by marketing of energy supplements.
What Science Says
Evidence from clinical studies suggests that folate is crucial for DNA synthesis and repair but does not directly boost energy levels in healthy individuals. Folate deficiency can cause fatigue, but in the absence of deficiency, extra supplementation does not enhance energy.
Verdict
Mostly False
Sources
- PMID:40086705 Predictive analysis of the impact of probiotic administration during pregnancy on the functional pathways of the gut microbiome in healthy infants based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- PMID:16235299 Dietary advice for reducing cardiovascular risk.
- PMID:31177276 Maternal Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation Stabilizes Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number in Pregnant Women in Lombok, Indonesia.