Ingredient profile
Folate in Neuro Recall: The DFE Math and the Safety Limit
Neuro Recall lists folate as 600 mcg DFE from 320 mcg of folic acid per 2 capsules. By the NIH formula, 320 mcg of folic acid equals about 544 mcg DFE, so the printed figure runs high (NIH ODS - Folate). Either way, the dose sits well under the 1,000 mcg upper limit. Trials have not shown folic acid helps thinking.
Written by the Neuro Recall label deskUpdated
The basics
What is folate, and why is it in Neuro Recall?
Folate is vitamin B9. The body uses it to make DNA and new cells, including red blood cells (NIH ODS - Folate).
Folate is the natural form found in leafy greens, beans and citrus. Folic acid is the man-made form used in supplements and fortified flour. Neuro Recall uses folic acid, the first line printed on its Supplement Facts box.
Folate often travels with B12 in formulas because the two work together in the blood. Sellers like the pairing. The research on thinking is less kind, as later sections show.
| Label name | Folate (as 320 mcg folic acid) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Vitamin B9 |
| Position on the label | Printed amount above the blend |
| Per 2-capsule serving | 600 mcg DFE (150% DV) |
| Amount used in research | RDA 400 mcg DFE; upper limit 1,000 mcg folic acid |
| Strength of evidence | Helps only if you are low |
| Marketed use | B vitamin for cell growth |
| Main caution | High folic acid can hide a B12 deficiency. Printed DFE math does not match 320 mcg folic acid. |
All four printed nutrients and the ten blend lines appear on the Neuro Recall Supplement Facts guide.
The label math
Why does 320 mcg of folic acid not equal 600 mcg DFE?
Because the NIH formula multiplies folic acid by 1.7, and 320 times 1.7 is 544, not 600 (NIH ODS - Folate). The label's figure is about 10% higher than the formula gives.
DFE stands for Dietary Folate Equivalents. It exists because folic acid is absorbed better than the folate in food. Labels convert folic acid into DFE so the two can be compared fairly.
Start with the printed folic acid
The label says 320 mcg of folic acid per 2 capsules.
Apply the NIH factor
1 mcg of folic acid counts as 1.7 mcg DFE. 320 x 1.7 = 544 mcg DFE (NIH ODS - Folate).
Compare with the label
The label prints 600 mcg DFE, 150% DV. 544 mcg DFE would be 136% of the 400 mcg DV.
| Item | As printed | Our arithmetic |
|---|---|---|
| Folic acid per serving | 320 mcg | 320 mcg |
| Folate as DFE | 600 mcg DFE | About 544 mcg DFE |
| % Daily Value (DV 400 mcg DFE) | 150% | About 136% |
| Folic acid needed for 600 mcg DFE | Not published | About 353 mcg |
The gap is small and does not make the product unsafe. It is still a sign the label was not checked closely. We cannot tell which number is the typo: the folic acid amount or the DFE figure.
Safety limit
Is 320 mcg of folic acid under the upper limit?
Yes. The adult upper limit for folic acid from supplements and fortified foods is 1,000 mcg a day, and Neuro Recall supplies 320 mcg (NIH ODS - Folate).
The limit counts only folic acid, not natural folate from food. Fortified cereal, bread and pasta add folic acid too. A daily multivitamin may add more. Check its label for the folic acid amount, not only the DFE figure.
Add up your labels if you stack products. Two capsules of Neuro Recall plus a multivitamin and a fortified cereal can still sit under 1,000 mcg, but the margin shrinks.
The main caution
How can folic acid hide a B12 deficiency?
Large amounts of folic acid can fix the anemia caused by low B12 while the nerve damage goes on (NIH ODS - Folate). The blood test looks better, so the real problem can be missed.
Low B12 harms both blood and nerves. Folic acid repairs the blood side only. A person could feel a little less tired while numbness in the feet slowly gets worse.
Memory loss that disrupts daily life, or numbness and tingling, deserves a medical check. Ask for a B12 level, not only a blood count, before starting any folic acid product.
Neuro Recall also contains 240 mcg of B12, which may cover many people. It will not help everyone with poor B12 absorption, and it can blur test results. The vitamin B12 profile explains who runs low and why.
Neuro Recall: 5 bottles for $59.952 capsules a day · about $11.99 a bottle · free standard shipping · seller does not accept returns
View listingThe evidence
Does folic acid help memory or thinking?
Most trials say no. NIH reports that the bulk of clinical trial research has not shown folic acid supplements change cognitive function (NIH ODS - Folate).
- A 2018 Cochrane review of 5 trials and 879 people found no thinking benefit from 6 to 24 months of B vitamins (NCCIH Clinical Digest - supplements & cognition).
- Folate helps people who are truly low. Topping up a normal level is a different question.
- No trial has tested Neuro Recall itself, so any effect of this formula is unknown.
Folic acid is a reasonable vitamin to take for the right reason. Better memory is not a reason the research supports.
Life stages
What if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
Do not use Neuro Recall. The label says not to use it if you are pregnant or nursing, so it is not a substitute for a prenatal vitamin.
Folic acid matters before and during early pregnancy. Neuro Recall, though, also holds herbs such as ginkgo and berberine. Berberine is a concern in pregnancy and breastfeeding (MSK - Berberine). Ask your clinician for a prenatal product made for that stage.
Our take
Is the folate in Neuro Recall a selling point?
It is a safe, ordinary dose with a small label error. It is not a memory ingredient.
Fair to say
- Exact folic acid amount printed
- Well under the 1,000 mcg upper limit
- Paired with B12, which lowers the masking concern
Keep in mind
- 600 mcg DFE does not match 320 mcg folic acid
- No thinking benefit in most trials
- Stacks with fortified foods and multivitamins
Check every product you take before adding one more. The Neuro Recall side effects guide covers all 14 label lines.
FAQ
Folate in Neuro Recall: common questions
How much folic acid is in Neuro Recall?
Neuro Recall lists 320 mcg of folic acid per 2-capsule serving, printed as 600 mcg DFE and 150% of the Daily Value. By the NIH conversion of 1.7, 320 mcg of folic acid works out to about 544 mcg DFE, so the printed DFE figure is roughly 10% higher than the formula gives.
What does DFE mean on a supplement label?
DFE means Dietary Folate Equivalents. It adjusts for the fact that folic acid is absorbed better than food folate. One mcg of folic acid from a supplement counts as 1.7 mcg DFE. Labels list folate in DFE so products and foods can be compared on the same scale.
What is the upper limit for folic acid?
The adult upper limit is 1,000 mcg of folic acid a day from supplements and fortified foods combined. Natural folate in food does not count toward it. Neuro Recall supplies 320 mcg, so most adults stay under the limit unless they stack several fortified products and multivitamins.
Can too much folic acid be harmful?
The main known risk is that high folic acid can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency by correcting the anemia while nerve damage continues. That is why the upper limit exists. If you have numbness, tingling or memory changes, ask for a B12 test before relying on any folic acid product.
Is folate the same as folic acid?
Not quite. Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 found in food. Folic acid is the synthetic form used in supplements and fortified grains, and it is absorbed better. Neuro Recall uses folic acid, and its label converts that amount into folate DFE.
Does folic acid improve memory in older adults?
Most trials have not found a benefit. NIH notes that folic acid supplements generally have not changed cognitive function in clinical research, and a Cochrane review of B vitamins found no thinking gains over 6 to 24 months. People with a true folate shortage are the exception.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle label, the sales listing and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner, not by the manufacturer. This site is paid a commission when you order through its links.
Keep reading
More about Neuro Recall
U.S. stocking partner for Neuro Recall
Ready to look at Neuro Recall?
Check the label, your medicines and the return terms first. The listing sells 5-bottle packs; buying more lowers the price per pack.
- Checkout on eBay
- Free standard shipping
- Read the return terms first
