Methylation, cell division & protection of genomic stability

Folate (folic acid | vitamin B9) Folate is an essential, water-soluble B vitamin involved in numerous fundamental metabolic processes. It contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy, supports normal amino acid synthesis, and plays a role in normal blood cell formation. Folate is also important for normal homocysteine metabolism, plays a role in normal psychological function, and supports the normal function of the immune system. Furthermore, it contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and has a role in cell division.

In the context of healthy aging and longevity, folate is increasingly coming into focus because this B vitamin plays a central role in epigenetic processes. Epigenetics describes how environmental factors and lifestyle influence gene activity without altering the DNA sequence—that is, whether genes are "switched on" or "switched off." With increasing age, dysregulated patterns of this switching on and off occur, which is considered one of the early molecular hallmarks of aging. (López-Otín et al., 2023)Folate is a key factor in one-carbon metabolism and is involved in methylation reactions that enable orderly DNA methylation, nucleotide synthesis, and normal cell division. (Mandaviya et al., 2019; Zeisel, 2017) DNA methylation acts like cellular switches and is closely linked to cell division and DNA integrity. Adequate folate levels support these processes, contribute to normal cell division, and thus help maintain genetic stability – a mechanism that is particularly important for slowing down cellular aging processes and preserving healthy cell functions in the long term.