The discrepancy between "1,000 mcg" and "1,700 DFE" on your methyl folate supplement label can be explained by understanding the concept of Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE).

1. Microgram (mcg): This indicates the actual weight of the folate (in micrograms) that is contained in each serving of the supplement.

2. Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE): This is a measure used to standardize the bioavailability of folate from different sources, including dietary and supplemental forms. This equivalence acknowledges that folic acid in dietary supplements and fortified foods is more bioavailable than the folate naturally found in foods¹.

For folic acid, which is a synthetic form of folate often found in supplements, the conversion is:

• 1 mcg DFE = 0.6 mcg of folic acid when taken with food².

Since your supplement contains methyl folate (5-MTHF), a form that is often more bioavailable than folic acid, different conversion factors are applied. However, there is no universally established conversion factor for 5-MTHF to DFE. Manufacturers may use a conversion factor of up to 1.7 for 5-MTHF compared to folic acid³.

Therefore:

• 1,000 mcg of methyl folate could be equivalent to 1,700 DFE using this conversion factor.

To track your methyl folate intake, you can rely on the DFE measure if you are comparing it with other foods or supplements that list folate content in this format.

Footnotes

1. Office of Dietary Supplements, "Folate," NIH. ↩

2. Office of Dietary Supplements, "Folate - Health Professional," NIH. ↩

3. Office of Dietary Supplements, "Folate - Health Professional," NIH. ↩