[olsen]

L-Methylfolate: A Vitamin for Your Monoamines Stephen M. Stahl, M.D., Ph.D.
Issue: Synthesis of the monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine is regulated by L-methylfolate, a derivate of the vitamin folate.
TAKE-HOME POINTS
◆ L-Methylfolate is the centrally active derivate of the vitamin folate and is utilized not only for neurotransmitter synthesis, but also for many vital methylation reactions in all cells.
◆ L-Methylfolate regulates the availability of the critical enzyme cofactor BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin), required by tryptophan hydroxylase for serotonin synthesis and by tyrosine hydroxylase for dopamine and norepinephrine synthesis.
◆ Low levels of folate and L-methylfolate are linked to some forms of depression and to some patients who fail to respond to antidepressants, suggesting that augmentation of antidepressants with L-methylfolate may be a useful treatment option in these cases.
http://cdn.neiglobal.com/content/blo...thylfolate.pdf

[mrsD]

This brings up the question, which is not completely answered today about folic acid (synthetic) actually blocking methylfolate in the brain:

Here is an article a poster at PN sent me:

http://www.ajcn.org/content/87/3/517.long

Lots of maybes, possibly, could, in this article but it is interesting none the less. Important because folic acid appears now in many foods in US as a fortifcation process.

[wordsmithy]

A common mutation, called MTHFR, requires the methylfolate form (commonly sold as 5-MTHF) -- whereas the synthetic folic acid blocks the receptors, and so is harmful. This thread inspired me to read up on this (again) because I am a carrier.

Turns out the A1298C mutation on the MTHFR gene is linked with Parkinson's. I did find a product on line, but am not ready to order it yet without further research.

http://www.holisticheal.com/mthfr-a1...-function.html

Is anyone taking supplements for this mutation to enhance the methylation process?

[mrsD]

Originally Posted by wordsmithy

A common mutation, called MTHFR, requires the methylfolate form (commonly sold as 5-MTHF) -- whereas the synthetic folic acid blocks the receptors, and so is harmful. This thread inspired me to read up on this (again) because I am a carrier.

Turns out the A1298C mutation on the MTHFR gene is linked with Parkinson's. I did find a product on line, but am not ready to order it yet without further research.

http://www.holisticheal.com/mthfr-a1...-function.html

Is anyone taking supplements for this mutation to enhance the methylation process?

There is no methyl folate in that product that I can see.

Solgar makes Metafolin 800mcg OTC... available at iherb.com for much less $$ than this one listed above in the last post.

[lurkingforacure]

Originally Posted by mrsD

There is no methyl folate in that product that I can see.

Solgar makes Metafolin 800mcg OTC... available at iherb.com for much less $$ than this one listed above in the last post.

What is the difference, if any, between metafolate/methylfolate in the Solgar and the 5--methyltetrahydrofolate made by Xymogen? thx

[mrsD]

I believe they are the same thing... just a long chemical name and abbreviated form for ease in communication.

Merck owns the patent for this and hence all methylfolate comes from the same source, as far as I know.

I can't find the Xymogen version to compare prices, but I think Xymogen is typically more expensive all around.

For a while Merck withdrew sales to OTC suppliers thinking it would boost RX sales with products with high dose tablets.
But that didn't work out for them, so they relicensed back to some OTC suppliers. Solgar was one of the first.
Another is Folapro which has a huge range of prices far more expensive than Solgar's. But that depends on where you purchase it, etc. I believe that Swanson's now offers it recently for even less.

[Holly TH]

The ingredient you are looking for is brand-name "Metafolin". That is the active, broken down L-methylfolate that bypasses the MTHFR polymorphism. I know Solgar contains 800 mg of Metafolin. I am not familiar with the other supplement.

[wordsmithy]

My integrative medicine doctor sells me 5-MTHF (5 mg) put out by Thorne. This is an over the counter product which contains folate (as L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate). In Thorne's write-up, they say that 60% of the US population has the MTHFR polymorphism, and also suggests that using this active form, rather than the inactive form, is better for everybody.

http://www.thorne.com/articles/5MTHF_Featurette.jsp