Based in South Florida, Naval Parikh, MD, is a respected internal medicine physician in private practice. He also facilitates clinical trials at NAPA Research. Widely published in his field, Naval Parikh, MD, is the author of “Role of Folate on Depression: A Shift from Folate Replacement to Folate Supplementation” (Molecular Medicine Journal, Vol. 6, 74-76).A Harvard Mental Health Letter detailed the role of folate, also known as folic acid or vitamin B9, in treating psychiatric symptoms such as depression. Folate is found naturally in citrus, leafy green vegetables, and beans. Found naturally in citrus, leafy green vegetables, and beans, folate is also required at a certain level by pregnant women to mitigate miscarriage and birth-defect risks. Working in tandem with vitamins B12 and B6, folate works to break down homocysteine, an amino acid that, when found in high levels, has links with depression and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, breaking down homocysteine produces SAMe, which in an important component of brain cells. Deficiencies of SAMe are associated with depression. One issue for some people is that they harbor a variant gene that prevents the folate in their diet from being fully synthesized and used. One study has suggested that having this variant increases risks of depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. In addition, low levels of folate in the blood can make antidepressant drugs less effective.
An internist at SortinoMD in Boca Raton, Florida, Naval Parikh, MD, also serves as the clinical site coordinator of NAPA Research in Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Naval Parikh has also been published in the Journal of Molecular Medicine for his investigation of the relationship between folate and depression.Many people use the terms folic acid and folate interchangeably due to their similar names and characteristics. However, they are different forms of vitamin B9.A naturally-occurring form of vitamin B9, folate is found primarily in leafy vegetables, which are a good dietary source of it. Once digested, most dietary folate is converted into 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). The biologically-active form of vitamin B9, 5-MTHF is essential for fueling the cells that drive the creation of genes, DNA, and chromosomes in the body.Conversely, folic acid, also known as pteroylmonoglutamic acid, is a synthetic form of vitamin B9. It’s found in many supplements and as an additive to processed food products, such as fortified breakfast cereals and flour.Unlike folate, folic acid is not immediately converted to 5-MTHF upon entering the digestive system. Instead, it must be converted to dihydrofolate (DHF) and tetrahydrofolate (THF) first. This process is time-consuming and may result in undigested folic acid being found in a person’s body. When left unmetabolized, folic acid increases the risk of cancer and may prevent the diagnosis and treatment of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
