At 26 weeks pregnant, Emily walked into the emergency room, leaning on her husband.

Her blood pressure was 160/110 mmHg, and her urine test showed protein +2.

Looking at the lab report, the doctor said with concern:
“Gestational hypertension. We need to monitor closely for preterm delivery risk.”

This scene is not uncommon in obstetrics. In China, gestational hypertension occurs in about 5.22% to 5.57% of pregnancies.

A 2005 case-control study published in Epidemiology revealed a hidden risk behind “common knowledge”:

A functional mutation in the MTHFR gene at position C677T—key to folate metabolism—significantly increases the risk of gestational hypertension.

This 7-year study (1993–2000), conducted in Boston, Philadelphia, and Toronto, found:

• ·        If the mother carries the 677T variant:  Risk of hypertension ≈ 1.9× that of normal genotype.
• ·        If the baby carries the 677T variant: Mother's risk ≈ 2.4×.
• ·        If both mother and baby carry the 677T variant: Risk ≈ 3× — the highest-risk combination.

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MTHFR 677 is a key enzyme in folate metabolism. It helps convert synthetic folic acid into 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate — the bioactive form of folate that the body can directly use.

Insufficient 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate leads to elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels, which damage vascular endothelial cells and increase the risk of gestational hypertension.
Active folate bypasses this mutation and directly reduces the risk.

Among all active folate forms, Magnafolate — a naturalized folate — stands out due to its high purity, stability, and practical non-toxicity. Magnafolate is directly bioavailable, not limited by folate metabolism genes, and quickly raises serum and red blood cell folate levels.

It directly participates in Hcy metabolism, effectively lowering maternal Hcy levels and reducing the risk of gestational hypertension.

If you're trying to conceive, pregnant, or know someone like Emily, switching from folic acid to Magnafolate is like patching a genetic bug.
It bypasses the mutation and builds a safe folate defense line — every dose counts.

【Disclaimer】
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
Always consult your doctor before taking any supplements during pregnancy, especially if you have chronic conditions or are on medication.
Folate supplementation is not a treatment for hypertension.
If you experience symptoms like high blood pressure, swelling, or headaches, seek medical attention immediately.

【References】
[1] Hernández-Díaz S, Wu XF, Hayes C, et al. Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Polymorphisms and the Risk of Gestational Hypertension. Epidemiology, 2005, 16(5): 628–634.
[2] Lian Z, Liu K, Gu J, Cheng Y, et al. Biological Characteristics and Applications of Folate and 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate. China Food Additives, 2022(2): 1–8.