What is L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Calcium？
L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium, which is an active form of folic acid. Folic acid itself is a water-soluble vitamin that requires a series of metabolic transformations in the human body to play its role. L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium does not need to go through this complex metabolic process, and can be directly absorbed and utilized by the human body.
Common folic acid (synthetic folic acid) is mainly a supplement form of folic acid, and the chemical name is pteroylglutamate. After the human body ingestion of ordinary folic acid, it needs to be catalyzed by a variety of enzymes in the body, such as methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), to convert it into 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in order to play its physiological functions. So L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium is the most effective way to supplement folic acid.
Comparison of metabolic pathway in vivo of folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate
Folic acid to become active folic acid needs to go through three steps of enzymatic hydrolysis in order to be converted into the active form absorbed and utilized by the human body, natural dietary folic acid needs to be hydrolyzed off the polyglutamic acid group to be absorbed and utilized, and only 6s-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid can be directly absorbed and utilized. Since the conversion of synthetic folic acid is affected by folic acid metabolic enzymes, the supplementation of inactive synthetic folic acid cannot meet the needs of MTHFR polymorphic population for biologically active folic acid, and has inherent population coverage defects, so it is not a full-function folic acid supplement. However, 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium, which is not affected by this metabolic enzyme, does not have population coverage defects, showing a more unique advantage in correcting folate metabolism disorders.
Benefits of L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium
▣ Security
L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium is an endogenous basic substance in the human body, so it will not cause adverse reactions such as allergies. The long-term application practice of more than ten years in Europe and the United States shows that artificial L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium can be comparable to endogenous L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium as long as it is stable enough and pure enough.
▣ Effectiveness
L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium is superior to synthetic inactive FOLIC ACID in terms of effectiveness, because synthetic inactive folic acid needs to be converted into L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium by folic acid metabolism enzymes in the body before it can be used. However, due to the gene mutation of this key metabolic enzyme, its genotype is different, resulting in the ability of some people to convert inactive synthetic folic acid into active folic acid is reduced, resulting in folic acid metabolism disorders, affecting the normal biological effects of folic acid in the body. As L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium is not affected by the conversion of folic acid metabolic enzymes, it can be directly absorbed and utilized by all people, and is not restricted by race and region, so for people with folic acid metabolism disorders, the use of active folic acid has a wider effectiveness and is a better choice to supplement folic acid.
▣ Absorptivity
The amount of L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate calcium that can be obtained through the conversion of inactive folic acid in the body is limited and varies by population (genotype). Direct intake of active folic acid does not exist in the body conversion link, which can ensure that the intake dose is quickly absorbed to obtain the required accurate dose.
Clinical Trial
Application
The role of L-5-MTHF in regular foods and foods with special nutritional effects is to replace folic acid as a supplement. The projected conditions for the use of 5-MTHF are consistent in quantity and quality with folic acid, and the European Food Safety Authority (2004) has established 1 mg per day as the maximum tolerable intake for adults. The intake of calcium in this tolerable maximum intake reaches 0.08 mg per day for adults, which is insignificant compared to the world recognized maximum intake level of 2,500 mg per day for adults.
At present, 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium has been approved by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China as a new food additive. 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium not only has high stability, but also has the characteristics of instant dissolution equilibrium in the medium, which improves the bioavailability.