WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.400
Please note, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, CRN, does not endorse any guest appearing on this podcast or any products or services they may discuss.
00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:14.160
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CRN.
00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:16.160
Thank you and enjoy the episode.
00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:35.840
You are listening to Supplement Source, the official podcast of the Council for Responsible Nutrition.
00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.399
And now your host, Jeff Ventura.
00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:41.840
Hello, and thank you for listening to Supplement Source.
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:48.719
My name is Jeff Ventura, and I'm the Vice President of Communications here at the Council for Responsible Nutrition in Washington, D.C.
00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:56.719
On this episode of Supplement Source, I'm joined by Laura Ison, Senior Marketing and Business Development Manager at Baltim Human Nutrition and Health.
00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:03.520
And also Eric Chapio, PhD R D, Senior Manager of Nutrition Science at Balcom Human Nutrition and Health, and Dr.
00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:10.560
Emily Ho, endowed chair and director of the Linus Pauling Institute and University Distinguished Professor at Oregon State.
00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:22.079
Together, we're exploring the fascinating science of epigenetics and methylation and the roles that nutrients like folate and choline may play from prenatal nutrition through healthy aging.
00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:23.599
Welcome all.
00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:27.519
So, Lauren, um, I guess first question is for you.
00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:36.319
The healthy aging category has been accelerating, uh, and prenatal is a mature space looking for differentiation.
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:40.319
What is driving brand and consumer interest in the space right now?
00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:43.200
Well, first off, we're so excited to be here today.
00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:45.280
Thank you for having us back again.
00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:54.400
So, what we're really seeing here, you know, consumers are we're living longer and we're looking for ways to live better while we're living longer.
00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:59.519
So that's creating a fundamental shift on how consumers think about aging.
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:14.800
They're becoming increasingly interested in what's happening at the cellular level, and brands are responding by looking for nutrition solutions that support foundational biology rather than addressing individual symptoms.
00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:24.080
So, um, in many ways, consumers are being encouraged to take control of their chronological age, but also their biological age.
00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:36.080
Research shows us that there's a strong interest in longevity and cellular health, and we're seeing growing awareness in products on the shelf, in cellular health and methylation.
00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:40.639
At the same time, prenatal remains an incredibly important category.
00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.199
In fact, it's still so big, so big right now.
00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:44.319
Right, it's so big.
00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:50.000
It's it's projected to grow um really strongly still through 2029.
00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:54.479
Um, and you know, people know fully for prenatal nutrition.
00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:59.520
So, Jeff, as you said, like brands are looking for meaningful ways to differentiate.
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:07.520
And so I think that conversation is no longer this simply like, does it contain folate over folic acid?
00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:10.400
It's becoming what form of folate is being used?
00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:12.479
How do I get it efficiently in the body?
00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:17.439
And the question is, where are those benefits beyond um pregnancy?
00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:21.759
That's where methylation for us becomes particularly interesting.
00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:33.840
It creates an opportunity to connect nutrients like folate into that broader range of health categories like um cognition, heart health, healthy aging, cellular health.
00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:47.039
And a quick fast fact on that is globally product launches containing methylfolate or 5 MTHF grew double digits over the last five years, whereas the B vitamin category grew just around 5%.
00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:57.439
That's telling us that innovation around bioactive 5 MTHF is growing over larger overall than the vitamin category alone.
00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:03.520
So those categories like cognition and healthy aging are expected to see growth.
00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:06.560
And that's all happening at the cellular level.
00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:18.079
What I would say there is whether you're really concerned about early development or healthy aging, they're both really all connected on how our cells function and that root biology.
00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:35.759
So if we can focus on the nutrients that are fueled by those mechanisms and the processes like methylation, then we're really starting to meet the consumer needs and how they're really getting interested in the science and that connects you to those better you benefits.
00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:43.839
I think that that sort of connects us to Emily and sort of what um what you know we can talk about with you today, Emily.
00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:51.439
Um, you know, given that backdrop, epigenetics, how is it different from our fixed DNA sequence?
00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:53.839
Yeah, that's a great question.
00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:04.800
So I like to think about um if you think back to your biology classes, you know, that DNA is really um, you know, has all the information that tells your body what to do.
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:14.560
So I like to think of it kind of like the library of the cell, that it has all the pages, all the books that uh tells all our cells and bodies what what they need to do.
00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:17.360
Um the problem is um there are a lot of books.
00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:18.800
I'm here at a university.
00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:23.600
If you come to visit my university library, we also have a lot of books in that library.
00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:30.959
And the way if we laid down our DNA in a single line, it would take up a football field.
00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:35.839
Uh and we need to compact that really big information into a very small space.
00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:41.360
Our DNA structure has these proteins called histones that the DNA is compacted in.
00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:49.199
So if you come to my library, there are these crazy shelves that open and close, and there's a little button if you want to get a book that will open up the shelf.
00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:51.279
So our DNA is kind of like that.
00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:59.199
So epigenetics, which literally means outside the DNA, are kind of like the things that control those shelves.
00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:06.480
Um, and they're also kind of like sticky notes that also help direct us uh to where the information is that we need.
00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:11.920
So when you think about DNA, we need to be able to read the information to be able to get the right information.
00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:28.319
So those shelves that open and close, that button that helps open up the shelf so you can get the right book, those sticky notes that are there that make sure you get to the right page, are all those epigenetic changes that help direct the cell and the machinery to read that right information.
00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:31.199
So, how does methylation fit into that analogy?
00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:41.600
Methylation are the some of those things that push that button to open up the shelf and are the sticky notes that help direct the machinery to read the right information.
00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:53.680
So they're constant switches that help kind of turn on and turn off the ability of your cell to read the DNA and get the information that tells your cells what they need to do or what what they need to be.
00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:03.279
So they're a constant flux of turning on, turning off, um, and absolutely part of the machinery in terms of helping our body do what it needs to do.
00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.120
I'm always fascinated that to find out that we know these things.
00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:10.079
I mean, it's just like how did we come to understand this stuff?
00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:11.199
It's fantastic.
00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:16.240
Um, why is methylation so critical during pregnancy and early development?
00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:22.800
Well, like I said, methylation really is a big part of helping our bodies and our cells do the right thing.
00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:30.000
And if you think about during pregnancy, during development, we're literally going from a single cell to an entire body.
00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:36.879
So there's a lot of things that need to be coordinated in the right order and very quickly.
00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:48.959
And these methylation switches, um, constantly turning on, turning off things at the right time, are really what direct our bodies and our cells to get that information and that sequence correct.
00:07:49.199 --> 00:08:00.079
So if you don't have the uh the components that contribute to methylation, so folate, for example, is one big component of that methylation story.
00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:10.399
If you don't have enough of that, that whole sequence, all that machinery doesn't work as well and can have impacts in terms of that development process.
00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.199
Wow, that's really that's really fascinating.
00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:14.800
Let me ask you a question.
00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:16.079
Um, diet.
00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:18.560
What does diet fit into this at all?
00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:19.839
Oh, absolutely.
00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:25.519
Diet is a major component in terms of supporting pregnancy and development.
00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:30.879
Uh, and diet, uh, the methyl donors that are needed for methylation come from our diet.
00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:37.360
So folate that I just mentioned is a really important part of a healthy diet, especially during pregnancy.
00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:45.120
And there's a lot of other components in our diet that support both your genetic uh stability and your epigenetic stability.
00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:48.960
That's all important uh for your baby as it's growing.
00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:56.159
And I mean, uh I guess what we're also saying is that methylation isn't just a pregnancy story, right?
00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:57.600
Oh, absolutely.
00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:03.679
Uh so there's a couple things uh that you know what you eat is important for your baby.
00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:12.480
Um it's also important for your grandbaby as well, that there's this what's called transgenerational effect that that happens.
00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:14.399
But it doesn't just stop there.
00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:25.840
Um, even um as your baby grows uh and becomes an adult, uh, those methylation changes are shaping uh everything as as you age as well.
00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:41.600
And there's some thought that some dysregulation of that methylation or epigenetics plays almost an equal role to genetic changes in terms of your disease risk, um how well you age, um, chronic disease.
00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:48.240
Uh so supporting your epigenetics throughout your lifetime is absolutely important.
00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:50.799
Let me ask a question to Eric.
00:09:50.960 --> 00:10:00.159
Um, Eric, how does this, how does this all kind of uh make sense with regard to the concept of one carbon metabolism?
00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:01.519
What's that all about?
00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:03.120
Yeah, it's a great question.
00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:11.279
I mean, the one carbon metabolic system is basically the the sort of body's internal system to keep these single methyl groups moving around.
00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:22.639
Um you know, uh Emily gave that analogy of the library and making sure that uh this is pushing, uh sort of helping you find the right pages and sort of work in the proper way.
00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:29.200
An analogy that I know Lauren appreciated as she is the president of her local book club, so that warmed her heart.
00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:39.679
Uh but what I'll say is those individual methyl groups, those individual sort of bricks in the wall, so to speak, come from nutrients in your diet, as you mentioned, things like choline and folate.
00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:49.759
So as the system is moving and chugging along, this is sort of the fuel, the the part of the driving that engine to make sure that methylation continues uh properly.
00:10:51.200 --> 00:11:04.559
So the neat thing about so I think one nuance that people often sort of forget is that folate, which is sort of like the arguably one of the main drivers for this process, um, most of the folate that comes in our diet comes in the form of folic acid, right?
00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:07.200
Through fortification, largely supplementation.
00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:13.919
Um, but one thing that people don't often realize is that folic acid doesn't actually have that methyl group sort of built into it.
00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:21.039
Your body needs to go through a series of metabolic hoops, so to speak, um, to give that methyl group or make it prominent.
00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:27.120
And that's the way it happens with and that comes in the form of methylfolate, hence the name, right?
00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:35.600
Um but now the other nutrient, of course, that's pretty involved in this is choline, which has three methyl groups attached to it.
00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:38.000
So each of those methyl groups is important, right?
00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:41.120
Because you can think of these again as sort of bricks in the wall.
00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:47.440
Uh, you know, when you're uh trying to build a process, each of those individual bricks plays a part.
00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:50.799
So having these nutrients in your diet is incredibly important.
00:11:51.759 --> 00:12:02.320
So one cool thing that we uh have invested in one of our own products is a choline-enriched folate, which actually has seven methyl groups attached to it, which is fantastic.
00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:11.360
And so part of that technology that we wanted to see is how does that actually impact methylation sort of in its deepest level, in a cellular, at the deepest cellular level.
00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:26.399
So this is a study we just published uh in the spring of this year, um, which actually showed that with our Optofolin Plus product, um treating cells with that actually had a couple of different measurable impacts on markers of epigenetics.
00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:35.200
Number one was an increase in the methyl donor availability, a molecule called SAM, which is sort of like the active molecule that does the methylating itself.
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:45.600
Um, second was we saw an increase in methylation capacity, or basically the ratio of SAM to PSA, which is kind of exactly what it sounds like, the ability of that cell to methylate.
00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:54.559
And then lastly was uh when we looked at DNA methylation itself, the 14 times, uh 14-fold increase in markers of methylation overall.
00:12:54.799 --> 00:13:06.080
So we're really excited about using this technology that we have with uh our new choline-enriched methylfolate uh to see how that can actually translate to specific markers of cellular health.
00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:09.600
But if I understand this, there's a nutrient gap to talk about here, right?
00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:16.559
I mean, can you share what the data shows on how many Americans fall short on folate and choline?
00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.000
Yeah, absolutely.
00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:23.200
I mean, you can see from large national-level surveys that uh people just aren't getting enough of these nutrients.
00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.279
I don't think this is necessarily a new story, right?
00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.879
We've known this for a long time.
00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:31.120
Um, for choline, more than 90% of Americans aren't getting enough choline in their diet.
00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:36.799
Of course, that varies based on which age and gender group you're talking about, but generally speaking, it's not great.
00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:43.440
Uh for folate, uh about 16% of Americans uh are not getting enough folate from diet alone.
00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:49.200
And for women uh age 50 plus, 51 plus, uh, it's about 30%, just about a third are not.
00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:55.919
So we often think of folate as being sort of solved uh thanks to fortification, but generally speaking, that's not the case.
00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.240
Lauren, let me ask you um a couple of different things here.
00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:12.159
Uh for brands and formulators who are listening to the show, what's the opportunity in connecting folate to the larger methylation and cellular health story?
00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:17.759
Um I know I'm talking like, you know, market research data with Google Trends, that sort of thing.
00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:26.799
And if listeners take away one idea uh about epigenetics, uh methylation and folate form, what should it be?
00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.080
Yeah, those are all great questions.
00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.799
I'll try and tackle one at a time here.
00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:40.879
So the opportunity um is to make folate relevant to more people, of course, across more stages of life.
00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:50.639
While consumers are really looking for a clearer reason to understand why folate matters, and that comes down to the form that Eric just mentioned.
00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:55.279
So historically, folate communications have centered around prenatal health.
00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:59.759
We covered that a little bit before, and that foundation will always be important.
00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:20.159
But new methylation research that we're conducting allows brands to now expand that conversation well beyond just pregnancy and connect folate with broader needs into those areas I mentioned, like cognition, heart health, healthy aging, broadly cellular health.
00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:30.240
We know from the trends reports there, like Google, that 60% of consumers find it extremely or very important to purchase longevity products.
00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:36.799
And then further to beyond that, 70% plan to continue to purchase it more in the future.
00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:40.639
So it's not even just the first stop, but what are they going to continue to do?
00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:46.080
So for formulators, it's not just a checkbox and prenatles or the multivitamins.
00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:51.679
It becomes a differentiating platform for them on the cellular nutrition point, right?
00:15:51.840 --> 00:16:16.639
So Eric mentioned he spent a good amount of time on the difference between folic acid and bioactive folate, and then beyond that, one step further, on a seven times advantage in methylation when you have a choline-enriched form of folate and the connection that both folate and choline bring to being able to contribute those additional methyl groups for methylation.
00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:32.799
And so the important point there is being able to say on a label, it's not just adding milligram micrograms and milligrams of folate, but actually contributing towards that functional biology and that root cause that we started the conversation on.
00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:42.879
Another important point might be that, you know, we have premium prenatal customers and healthy aging consumers, and those are highly motivated audiences, right?
00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:52.639
They're really looking for those thoughtfully formulated products backed by science and nutrients that are actually going to be utilized in the bodies.
00:16:52.799 --> 00:17:07.519
I'd say for brands, if they can communicate in a way that's clearly without worrying about the biology or the biochemistry, I should say, and they can create a meaningful differentiation through something like methylation and the claims that they can make.
00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:10.960
That's a really good way to bring this to the marketplace.
00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:15.440
And then for your second question, Jeff, I'd say about what's the big takeaway?
00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:19.440
You know, what do I want to leave everyone with at the end of the day for our listeners?
00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:23.440
Um, not all folates are the same, and really just every methyl counts.
00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.720
The form matters.
00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:33.359
Your genes may provide the blueprint, but certain nutrients can certainly help determine effectively how that blueprint blueprint is read.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:37.039
We'll bring it back to our book analogy and how that's utilized.
00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:47.599
But um we've heard today that through methylation, nutrients such as folate and choline can help supply methyl groups needed to support cellular health and function.
00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:55.279
So folate alone really isn't just a prenatal nutrient, but it's the right bioactive form, especially with being choline enriched.
00:17:55.359 --> 00:18:01.599
It can become part of a lifelong story around methylation, cellular health, healthy aging.
00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:10.000
Um, so it's not just about putting those micrograms on the label, but participating in the biology and getting that support that you're looking for.
00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:14.240
And um, we want to make sure that we're supporting that broader health stories.
00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.960
I'll leave you with Jeff, you know, every method counts.
00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.759
I love it.
00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.240
I love it.
00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:26.799
Lauren Ison, Emily Ho, and Eric Capio, uh, the Balcom team, thank you so much for uh joining Supplement Source today.
00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:31.279
This is by far and away the most intelligent conversation I'm gonna have today.
00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:39.839
So I really do appreciate uh all that you have offered uh me and our listeners, and we do appreciate it and we love you to come back.
00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.359
Thank you so much.
00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.640
Thanks for having us.
00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.079
Great thanks.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.400
Please note, the Council for Responsible Nutrition, CRN, does not endorse any guest appearing on this podcast or any products or services they may discuss.
00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:14.160
The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of CRN.
00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:16.160
Thank you and enjoy the episode.
00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:35.840
You are listening to Supplement Source, the official podcast of the Council for Responsible Nutrition.
00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.399
And now your host, Jeff Ventura.
00:00:39.520 --> 00:00:41.840
Hello, and thank you for listening to Supplement Source.
00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:48.719
My name is Jeff Ventura, and I'm the Vice President of Communications here at the Council for Responsible Nutrition in Washington, D.C.
00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:56.719
On this episode of Supplement Source, I'm joined by Laura Ison, Senior Marketing and Business Development Manager at Baltim Human Nutrition and Health.
00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:03.520
And also Eric Chapio, PhD R D, Senior Manager of Nutrition Science at Balcom Human Nutrition and Health, and Dr.
00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:10.560
Emily Ho, endowed chair and director of the Linus Pauling Institute and University Distinguished Professor at Oregon State.
00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:22.079
Together, we're exploring the fascinating science of epigenetics and methylation and the roles that nutrients like folate and choline may play from prenatal nutrition through healthy aging.
00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:23.599
Welcome all.
00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:27.519
So, Lauren, um, I guess first question is for you.
00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:36.319
The healthy aging category has been accelerating, uh, and prenatal is a mature space looking for differentiation.
00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:40.319
What is driving brand and consumer interest in the space right now?
00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:43.200
Well, first off, we're so excited to be here today.
00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:45.280
Thank you for having us back again.
00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:54.400
So, what we're really seeing here, you know, consumers are we're living longer and we're looking for ways to live better while we're living longer.
00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:59.519
So that's creating a fundamental shift on how consumers think about aging.
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:14.800
They're becoming increasingly interested in what's happening at the cellular level, and brands are responding by looking for nutrition solutions that support foundational biology rather than addressing individual symptoms.
00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:24.080
So, um, in many ways, consumers are being encouraged to take control of their chronological age, but also their biological age.
00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:36.080
Research shows us that there's a strong interest in longevity and cellular health, and we're seeing growing awareness in products on the shelf, in cellular health and methylation.
00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:40.639
At the same time, prenatal remains an incredibly important category.
00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:43.199
In fact, it's still so big, so big right now.
00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:44.319
Right, it's so big.
00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:50.000
It's it's projected to grow um really strongly still through 2029.
00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:54.479
Um, and you know, people know fully for prenatal nutrition.
00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:59.520
So, Jeff, as you said, like brands are looking for meaningful ways to differentiate.
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:07.520
And so I think that conversation is no longer this simply like, does it contain folate over folic acid?
00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:10.400
It's becoming what form of folate is being used?
00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:12.479
How do I get it efficiently in the body?
00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:17.439
And the question is, where are those benefits beyond um pregnancy?
00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:21.759
That's where methylation for us becomes particularly interesting.
00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:33.840
It creates an opportunity to connect nutrients like folate into that broader range of health categories like um cognition, heart health, healthy aging, cellular health.
00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:47.039
And a quick fast fact on that is globally product launches containing methylfolate or 5 MTHF grew double digits over the last five years, whereas the B vitamin category grew just around 5%.
00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:57.439
That's telling us that innovation around bioactive 5 MTHF is growing over larger overall than the vitamin category alone.
00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:03.520
So those categories like cognition and healthy aging are expected to see growth.
00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:06.560
And that's all happening at the cellular level.
00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:18.079
What I would say there is whether you're really concerned about early development or healthy aging, they're both really all connected on how our cells function and that root biology.
00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:35.759
So if we can focus on the nutrients that are fueled by those mechanisms and the processes like methylation, then we're really starting to meet the consumer needs and how they're really getting interested in the science and that connects you to those better you benefits.
00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:43.839
I think that that sort of connects us to Emily and sort of what um what you know we can talk about with you today, Emily.
00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:51.439
Um, you know, given that backdrop, epigenetics, how is it different from our fixed DNA sequence?
00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:53.839
Yeah, that's a great question.
00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:04.800
So I like to think about um if you think back to your biology classes, you know, that DNA is really um, you know, has all the information that tells your body what to do.
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:14.560
So I like to think of it kind of like the library of the cell, that it has all the pages, all the books that uh tells all our cells and bodies what what they need to do.
00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:17.360
Um the problem is um there are a lot of books.
00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:18.800
I'm here at a university.
00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:23.600
If you come to visit my university library, we also have a lot of books in that library.
00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:30.959
And the way if we laid down our DNA in a single line, it would take up a football field.
00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:35.839
Uh and we need to compact that really big information into a very small space.
00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:41.360
Our DNA structure has these proteins called histones that the DNA is compacted in.
00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:49.199
So if you come to my library, there are these crazy shelves that open and close, and there's a little button if you want to get a book that will open up the shelf.
00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:51.279
So our DNA is kind of like that.
00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:59.199
So epigenetics, which literally means outside the DNA, are kind of like the things that control those shelves.
00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:06.480
Um, and they're also kind of like sticky notes that also help direct us uh to where the information is that we need.
00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:11.920
So when you think about DNA, we need to be able to read the information to be able to get the right information.
00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:28.319
So those shelves that open and close, that button that helps open up the shelf so you can get the right book, those sticky notes that are there that make sure you get to the right page, are all those epigenetic changes that help direct the cell and the machinery to read that right information.
00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:31.199
So, how does methylation fit into that analogy?
00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:41.600
Methylation are the some of those things that push that button to open up the shelf and are the sticky notes that help direct the machinery to read the right information.
00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:53.680
So they're constant switches that help kind of turn on and turn off the ability of your cell to read the DNA and get the information that tells your cells what they need to do or what what they need to be.
00:06:53.839 --> 00:07:03.279
So they're a constant flux of turning on, turning off, um, and absolutely part of the machinery in terms of helping our body do what it needs to do.
00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.120
I'm always fascinated that to find out that we know these things.
00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:10.079
I mean, it's just like how did we come to understand this stuff?
00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:11.199
It's fantastic.
00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:16.240
Um, why is methylation so critical during pregnancy and early development?
00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:22.800
Well, like I said, methylation really is a big part of helping our bodies and our cells do the right thing.
00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:30.000
And if you think about during pregnancy, during development, we're literally going from a single cell to an entire body.
00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:36.879
So there's a lot of things that need to be coordinated in the right order and very quickly.
00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:48.959
And these methylation switches, um, constantly turning on, turning off things at the right time, are really what direct our bodies and our cells to get that information and that sequence correct.
00:07:49.199 --> 00:08:00.079
So if you don't have the uh the components that contribute to methylation, so folate, for example, is one big component of that methylation story.
00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:10.399
If you don't have enough of that, that whole sequence, all that machinery doesn't work as well and can have impacts in terms of that development process.
00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:13.199
Wow, that's really that's really fascinating.
00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:14.800
Let me ask you a question.
00:08:15.040 --> 00:08:16.079
Um, diet.
00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:18.560
What does diet fit into this at all?
00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:19.839
Oh, absolutely.
00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:25.519
Diet is a major component in terms of supporting pregnancy and development.
00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:30.879
Uh, and diet, uh, the methyl donors that are needed for methylation come from our diet.
00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:37.360
So folate that I just mentioned is a really important part of a healthy diet, especially during pregnancy.
00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:45.120
And there's a lot of other components in our diet that support both your genetic uh stability and your epigenetic stability.
00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:48.960
That's all important uh for your baby as it's growing.
00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:56.159
And I mean, uh I guess what we're also saying is that methylation isn't just a pregnancy story, right?
00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:57.600
Oh, absolutely.
00:08:57.759 --> 00:09:03.679
Uh so there's a couple things uh that you know what you eat is important for your baby.
00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:12.480
Um it's also important for your grandbaby as well, that there's this what's called transgenerational effect that that happens.
00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:14.399
But it doesn't just stop there.
00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:25.840
Um, even um as your baby grows uh and becomes an adult, uh, those methylation changes are shaping uh everything as as you age as well.
00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:41.600
And there's some thought that some dysregulation of that methylation or epigenetics plays almost an equal role to genetic changes in terms of your disease risk, um how well you age, um, chronic disease.
00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:48.240
Uh so supporting your epigenetics throughout your lifetime is absolutely important.
00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:50.799
Let me ask a question to Eric.
00:09:50.960 --> 00:10:00.159
Um, Eric, how does this, how does this all kind of uh make sense with regard to the concept of one carbon metabolism?
00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:01.519
What's that all about?
00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:03.120
Yeah, it's a great question.
00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:11.279
I mean, the one carbon metabolic system is basically the the sort of body's internal system to keep these single methyl groups moving around.
00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:22.639
Um you know, uh Emily gave that analogy of the library and making sure that uh this is pushing, uh sort of helping you find the right pages and sort of work in the proper way.
00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:29.200
An analogy that I know Lauren appreciated as she is the president of her local book club, so that warmed her heart.
00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:39.679
Uh but what I'll say is those individual methyl groups, those individual sort of bricks in the wall, so to speak, come from nutrients in your diet, as you mentioned, things like choline and folate.
00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:49.759
So as the system is moving and chugging along, this is sort of the fuel, the the part of the driving that engine to make sure that methylation continues uh properly.
00:10:51.200 --> 00:11:04.559
So the neat thing about so I think one nuance that people often sort of forget is that folate, which is sort of like the arguably one of the main drivers for this process, um, most of the folate that comes in our diet comes in the form of folic acid, right?
00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:07.200
Through fortification, largely supplementation.
00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:13.919
Um, but one thing that people don't often realize is that folic acid doesn't actually have that methyl group sort of built into it.
00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:21.039
Your body needs to go through a series of metabolic hoops, so to speak, um, to give that methyl group or make it prominent.
00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:27.120
And that's the way it happens with and that comes in the form of methylfolate, hence the name, right?
00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:35.600
Um but now the other nutrient, of course, that's pretty involved in this is choline, which has three methyl groups attached to it.
00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:38.000
So each of those methyl groups is important, right?
00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:41.120
Because you can think of these again as sort of bricks in the wall.
00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:47.440
Uh, you know, when you're uh trying to build a process, each of those individual bricks plays a part.
00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:50.799
So having these nutrients in your diet is incredibly important.
00:11:51.759 --> 00:12:02.320
So one cool thing that we uh have invested in one of our own products is a choline-enriched folate, which actually has seven methyl groups attached to it, which is fantastic.
00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:11.360
And so part of that technology that we wanted to see is how does that actually impact methylation sort of in its deepest level, in a cellular, at the deepest cellular level.
00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:26.399
So this is a study we just published uh in the spring of this year, um, which actually showed that with our Optofolin Plus product, um treating cells with that actually had a couple of different measurable impacts on markers of epigenetics.
00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:35.200
Number one was an increase in the methyl donor availability, a molecule called SAM, which is sort of like the active molecule that does the methylating itself.
00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:45.600
Um, second was we saw an increase in methylation capacity, or basically the ratio of SAM to PSA, which is kind of exactly what it sounds like, the ability of that cell to methylate.
00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:54.559
And then lastly was uh when we looked at DNA methylation itself, the 14 times, uh 14-fold increase in markers of methylation overall.
00:12:54.799 --> 00:13:06.080
So we're really excited about using this technology that we have with uh our new choline-enriched methylfolate uh to see how that can actually translate to specific markers of cellular health.
00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:09.600
But if I understand this, there's a nutrient gap to talk about here, right?
00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:16.559
I mean, can you share what the data shows on how many Americans fall short on folate and choline?
00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.000
Yeah, absolutely.
00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:23.200
I mean, you can see from large national-level surveys that uh people just aren't getting enough of these nutrients.
00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:25.279
I don't think this is necessarily a new story, right?
00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.879
We've known this for a long time.
00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:31.120
Um, for choline, more than 90% of Americans aren't getting enough choline in their diet.
00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:36.799
Of course, that varies based on which age and gender group you're talking about, but generally speaking, it's not great.
00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:43.440
Uh for folate, uh about 16% of Americans uh are not getting enough folate from diet alone.
00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:49.200
And for women uh age 50 plus, 51 plus, uh, it's about 30%, just about a third are not.
00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:55.919
So we often think of folate as being sort of solved uh thanks to fortification, but generally speaking, that's not the case.
00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.240
Lauren, let me ask you um a couple of different things here.
00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:12.159
Uh for brands and formulators who are listening to the show, what's the opportunity in connecting folate to the larger methylation and cellular health story?
00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:17.759
Um I know I'm talking like, you know, market research data with Google Trends, that sort of thing.
00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:26.799
And if listeners take away one idea uh about epigenetics, uh methylation and folate form, what should it be?
00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.080
Yeah, those are all great questions.
00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.799
I'll try and tackle one at a time here.
00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:40.879
So the opportunity um is to make folate relevant to more people, of course, across more stages of life.
00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:50.639
While consumers are really looking for a clearer reason to understand why folate matters, and that comes down to the form that Eric just mentioned.
00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:55.279
So historically, folate communications have centered around prenatal health.
00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:59.759
We covered that a little bit before, and that foundation will always be important.
00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:20.159
But new methylation research that we're conducting allows brands to now expand that conversation well beyond just pregnancy and connect folate with broader needs into those areas I mentioned, like cognition, heart health, healthy aging, broadly cellular health.
00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:30.240
We know from the trends reports there, like Google, that 60% of consumers find it extremely or very important to purchase longevity products.
00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:36.799
And then further to beyond that, 70% plan to continue to purchase it more in the future.
00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:40.639
So it's not even just the first stop, but what are they going to continue to do?
00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:46.080
So for formulators, it's not just a checkbox and prenatles or the multivitamins.
00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:51.679
It becomes a differentiating platform for them on the cellular nutrition point, right?
00:15:51.840 --> 00:16:16.639
So Eric mentioned he spent a good amount of time on the difference between folic acid and bioactive folate, and then beyond that, one step further, on a seven times advantage in methylation when you have a choline-enriched form of folate and the connection that both folate and choline bring to being able to contribute those additional methyl groups for methylation.
00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:32.799
And so the important point there is being able to say on a label, it's not just adding milligram micrograms and milligrams of folate, but actually contributing towards that functional biology and that root cause that we started the conversation on.
00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:42.879
Another important point might be that, you know, we have premium prenatal customers and healthy aging consumers, and those are highly motivated audiences, right?
00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:52.639
They're really looking for those thoughtfully formulated products backed by science and nutrients that are actually going to be utilized in the bodies.
00:16:52.799 --> 00:17:07.519
I'd say for brands, if they can communicate in a way that's clearly without worrying about the biology or the biochemistry, I should say, and they can create a meaningful differentiation through something like methylation and the claims that they can make.
00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:10.960
That's a really good way to bring this to the marketplace.
00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:15.440
And then for your second question, Jeff, I'd say about what's the big takeaway?
00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:19.440
You know, what do I want to leave everyone with at the end of the day for our listeners?
00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:23.440
Um, not all folates are the same, and really just every methyl counts.
00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.720
The form matters.
00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:33.359
Your genes may provide the blueprint, but certain nutrients can certainly help determine effectively how that blueprint blueprint is read.
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:37.039
We'll bring it back to our book analogy and how that's utilized.
00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:47.599
But um we've heard today that through methylation, nutrients such as folate and choline can help supply methyl groups needed to support cellular health and function.
00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:55.279
So folate alone really isn't just a prenatal nutrient, but it's the right bioactive form, especially with being choline enriched.
00:17:55.359 --> 00:18:01.599
It can become part of a lifelong story around methylation, cellular health, healthy aging.
00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:10.000
Um, so it's not just about putting those micrograms on the label, but participating in the biology and getting that support that you're looking for.
00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:14.240
And um, we want to make sure that we're supporting that broader health stories.
00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.960
I'll leave you with Jeff, you know, every method counts.
00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.759
I love it.
00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:18.240
I love it.
00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:26.799
Lauren Ison, Emily Ho, and Eric Capio, uh, the Balcom team, thank you so much for uh joining Supplement Source today.
00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:31.279
This is by far and away the most intelligent conversation I'm gonna have today.
00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:39.839
So I really do appreciate uh all that you have offered uh me and our listeners, and we do appreciate it and we love you to come back.
00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.359
Thank you so much.
00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.640
Thanks for having us.
00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.079
Great thanks.
