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MTHFR, Methylfolate & Nutrient Ideas for Kids

Methyl-Life® Product Help Guide

Methylation Dosage Amounts for Children

If you are looking at nutrients for your child - whether you have an MTHFR test result for them or not, you may be wondering if there's a specific guideline that is unique to children (based on age or weight).  The short answer is no, but read on and you'll find we have a suggested protocol as well as a dosage video below (which also mentions children).

Methylfolate dosage by art or science?

While there are a lot of studies and science behind dosing methylfolate, there's also an artform in listening to your body and watching for the signs and signals (as well as symptoms it gives you), especially when you dose with bioactive nutrients which can powerfully affect and mitigate certain gene mutations.


If you don't know how well you tolerate methylfolate, then start with a low dose and increase very slowly (every 3-5 days) until you reach your target goal.

If you know your child has an MTHFR mutation(s) but they are not showing any major health concerns, and you still want to supplement, consider the suggestion below to keep the methylation enzymes balanced and functioning:


  • L-Methylfolate - 400-1,200 mcg 
  • Active B12 (hydroxocobalamin) - 166-500 mcg 
  • Active B6 (as pyridoxal-5-phosphate) - 1.6-5 mg
  • High Absorption Magnesium - 100-300 mg


These can be easily obtained along with a host of other methylation-supporting nutrients found in our chewable Methylated Multivitamin. Simply chew 1 to 4 delicious Sweet 'n Tart Cherry Berry flavored tablets a day.


To ensure you’re getting bioavailable magnesium, consider an ultra-absorbing liposomal-type delivery such as Methyl-life's® Magnesium Complete product.

Note about B12

Consider taking bioidentical B12 forms in conjunction with L-Methylfolate because they work synergistically together in the body on the methylation pathway and can amplify its benefits. Stay AWAY from cyanocobalamin in supplements and fortified foods! Methyl-Life® carries affordable, vegan versions of active B12 in a tasty sublingual tablet (some products even include L-Methylfolate).


Bioidentical Active B12 Forms:

  • Hydroxocobalamin - harder to find, expensive, typically well-tolerated and used for pernicious anemia among other things
  • Methylcobalamin - fairly available and found in some supplements. Note: it's not always well tolerated
  • Adenosylcobalamin - harder to find, expensive, the most well-tolerated and often used in muscle recovery


B12 does NOT absorb well via the gut, so be sure to get a product that allows you to dissolve the B12 under your tongue. Sublingual transport is the best way to get B12 absorption (research has proven it's even better than B12 injections for increasing B12 sufficiency). If B12 blood serum levels test "high", consider Methyl-Life®'s Non-Methylated Multivitamin.


Learn more about the best bioidentical B12 forms to take.

Get one of our Free step-by-step Methylation Protocols

Consider getting your homocysteine levels checked by a healthcare practitioner. Lowering homocysteine levels may take additional nutrients and different dosing than what's suggested.


Start LOW with your initial dose and increase SLOWLY until you get to your targeted amount or reach tolerance.

SENSITIVE PEOPLE who should go VERY SLOW when methylating

  • Children
  • Those sensitive to medications and supplements
  • Those significantly impacted by trauma
  • Those with chronic or complex illnesses (i.e. chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, MS, Lyme, chemical sensitivities, etc.)

Quick Personal Note from Methyl-Life® Founder, Jamie Hope

"I had my serotonin level tested before starting a methylfolate and active B12 regimen. My result was 85, significantly low (normal range for the test was 125-185).


3 months later after taking 5 mg of L-Methylfolate and 5 mg of active B12 each day, I had my level tested again and it came back at 136 (significantly improved and within normal range).


Not only did I feel so much better (my mood was lifted), but my IBS symptoms began to melt away (much to my surprise). As I continued taking the nutrients over the next 6-9 months many things just got so much better. It really was quite an amazing transformation for me, a slow but steady healing. So don't underestimate the power of bioidentical methylfolate and B12 nutrients for not only mood improvement, but also repairing the gut.


Find your own sweet spot, where the amount of methylfolate you take makes you feel better.


It is worth noting that some people may never feel a big change like I did right away. Dr. Neil Rawlins says it may take some as many as 4 months (at a therapeutic dose - for some that is as much as 15 mg) to notice that they are actually feeling better.


Some people may just take methylfolate because it is recommended for them and reduces their homocysteine as well as disease risks (i.e. heart attack, miscarriage etc.) and helps clear toxins/metals/BPAs out of their system via glutathione boosting. These folks may not notice as much of a difference in how they 'feel', everyone's experience is unique."

Additional Resources

Review Methylfolate Dosage Details
Icon for Review Methylfolate Dosage Details
New to MTHFR?
Helpful Next Steps
Icon for New to MTHFR? <br> Helpful Next Steps
Potential Methylfolate Side Effects
Icon for Potential Methylfolate Side Effects

Methylation Protocol designed to Increase Methylation for Fertility, Pregnancy or Children

Download Protocol

Methylation Protocol designed to Increase Methylation for Sensitive Individuals

DOWNLOAD PROTOCOL

What is methylfolate dosage determined by?

Guidelines based on genetics?

The truth about MTHFR and how it affects our health tends to be more about specific genetic SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and how those generate or restrict enzymes in our bodies along specific pathways - for instance, the methylation pathway. So enzymatic generation and conversion affects health more than age or weight. This means there's no specific chart for children (or adults for that matter) based on their size, age or weight. Instead we consider nutrition and how the body absorbs and balances particular constituents based on the various genetic norms or abnormalities it encounters in each specific body (based on their unique genetic makeup).

Amounts based on age, weight or symptoms?

Because we don't have all of the pathways and genetics diagrammed and mapped out to every SNPs exact function level - neither can we determine the exact amount of any particular nutrient and how much of it which will affect those pathways. We have general ideas and some symptom-specific studies have been done which give us some guidelines. After that we have to rely somewhat on guesswork and experimentation which we do based on how our bodies respond to various dosage levels of any particular nutrients. This is why when you search for appropriate dosage levels for children, you will not find a clear chart to follow.
So instead of basing the amount of active nutrients you need on age, size or weight, it really makes more sense to base it on what set of symptoms you're dealing with.

Video Poster
Methylfolate Benefits & Dosage | How Much Methylfolate Should I Take? | Methyl-Life Supplements Source: Youtube.com

Methylfolate Ranges for Specific Health Conditions

If you’re targeting a particular condition, try a dosage level specific to that need. NOTE: L-Methylfolate crosses the blood-brain barrier, unlike folic acid.

Pregnancy/Fertility - target dosage is ~1-4 mg methylfolate per day

Diabetes/Cardiovascular Health - target dosage is ~3 mg methylfolate per day

Lowering Homocysteine levels - target dosage is ~3-7.5 mg methylfolate per day (NAC/NACET, TMG and Glutathione can also help with this)

ADD/ADHD/Focus and Attention - target dosage is ~1-5 mg methylfolate per day

Cognitive Health/Dementia/Alzheimer's - target dosage is ~5-6 mg methylfolate per day

Depression/Bipolar/Mental Health challenges - target dosage is ~7.5-15 mg methylfolate per day

Eye Health - target dosage is ~1 mg methylfolate per day

Product Recommendations

Chewable Methylated Multivitamin - L-Methylfolate + Active B12 - MTHFR/Pregnancy/Children - Methyl-Life® Supplements

Chewable Methylated Multivitamin - L-Methylfolate + Active B12 - MTHFR/Pregnancy/Children
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$42.00

Product Recommendations

Magnesium Complete: Sucrosomial® Delivery - Superior Magnesium - Methyl-Life® Supplements

Magnesium Complete: Sucrosomial® Delivery
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$29.00

  • Liposomal-Like Delivery for Superior Absorption
  • 3rd-Party Tested for Purity, Potency & Safety
  • 90 Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free Capsules
Jamie Hope - Founder of Methyl-Life

Written By:

Jamie Hope - Founder of Methyl-Life
Kari Asadorian - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Medical Reviewer:

Kari Asadorian - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Kari Asadorian - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Edited By:

Kari Asadorian - Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Table of Contents

Product Recommendations

Chewable Methylated Multivitamin - L-Methylfolate + Active B12 - MTHFR/Pregnancy/Children

Chewable Methylated Multivitamin - L-Methylfolate + Active B12 - MTHFR/Pregnancy/Children
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BIOACTIVE NUTRIENTS BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE
Magnesium Complete: Sucrosomial® Delivery

Magnesium Complete: Sucrosomial® Delivery
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STUDY PROVES MOST BIOAVAILABLE MAGNESIUM TYPE