Rapid Improvement with Crystal form C of L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Calcium Salt in Maternal Women with Folate Deficiency: A Pilot Study
Abstract:
Background: For women of reproductive age, a population-level red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration below the threshold 906 nmol/L or 400 ng/mL indicates suboptimal neural tube defect (NTD) prevention. Currently, there is a lack of evidence to support whether L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-5-MTHF) as a new source of folate supplementation is sufficient to raise RBC folate concentrations to a level associated with a reduced risk of a NTD-affected pregnancy.
Methods: This study was a single-arm pilot study. 33 pregnant women aged 25 to 40 with folate deficiency were treated with L-5-MTHF for 8 weeks between November 2023 and September 2024. The primary outcome is RBC folate concentrations.
Results: After 8 weeks of supplementation with L-5-MTHF, the RBC folate concentration increased significantly (283.026±219.578 vs 780.244±221.878) after (vs before) use , with a significant P value of 0.000 (P<0.01).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that L-5-MTHF is able to improve RBC folate significantly in the short term. L-5- MTHF is a viable alternative to improve folate deficiency and is feasible for pregnant females. It can also help them achieve target RBC folate concentration.
