Metafolin still being sold?
 

I had been getting the Source Naturals brand of Metafolin (biologically active form of folic acid) from a particular vitamin/supplement web site, but within the past few months it has “disappeared”. The only reference I can find now on the Source Naturals web site for Metafolin is the original press release document http://www.sourcenaturals.com/articles/5039/ (can no longer find the actual product representation on the site). It appears that maybe Metafolin has been replaced by MegaFolinic ?? http://www.sourcenaturals.com/products/GP1872/. This “new” product doesn’t look exactly the same as the original Metafolin (L-methylfolate). Did Merck “pull the plug” on Metafolin? :confused:

hmmmm?
 

I'll have to look around... perhaps call them.

I still have some left, as I buy ahead, and only take it when I don't use my other B100 complex.

Folinic acid was previously an RX item, called Leucovorin and was in 5mg doses.

Methylfolate is in the new Metanx and Cerefolin. I wonder if they are trying to restrict its availability so the RX will make more of an impact? I never underestimate $$ as a motivator.

I won't be able to do this til Sat, or so. But I will look around. This is very interesting and thank you for bringing it up. That product is soooooo nice.

I have sent Source Naturals an email....
 

I will post as soon as I get an answer back.

MetaFolin has a trademark on its name. And I suspect it is licensed to be sold.
It that is true, they may have raised their price to a prohibitive amount, for OTC sales.

This is just a theory so far. I did find some papers stating that folinic acid does cross the BBB after conversion...but it requires "some" conversion to do that, and methylfolate does not require conversion at all.

Folic acid is artificial and requires several steps to activation--
here is a website with a simple understandable graph:
http://www.hsfighters.com/folate_not_folicacid.htm

I will email these folks too, to see if they are supplying it now.

Answers to the emails:
 

Well....it was fast, I have to admit.

Here are excerpts from the two emails:

1) from HS product:
This sounds like market manipulation to me... what I suspected in the previous posts.

The second email from Source Naturals:
So this also suggests that Merck is removing this wonderful product to RX only.

Major bummer!

Re: Answers to the emails
 

Thanks mrsd for the research. Do you know if the MegaFolinic product would be the best alternative at this time? I would also consider a reasonably priced “formulation” of B12 (as methylcobalamin), Folate (as L-methylfolate), and B6 (as P5P), but I notice that even the “HSFighters” product from Health Science Nutrition only contains the Pyridoxine HCl form of B6 (not P5P).

I also recently found a “High Bioavailability” B-Complex on the Swanson web site http://www.swansonvitamins.com/webap...d=16824&R=5225 (I get most of my supplements from Swanson) and may just switch to this B-Complex. It’s a bit expensive, but probably no more than buying the methylcobalamin, methylfolate, and pyridoxal 5 phosphate separately.

Thanks again! :)

I will look around some...
 

Before answering.

I did find some PubMed studies on Folinic acid for children with blood brain barrier failures to folic acid, itself. The articles stated that folinic was converted by them and succeeded in removing the deficiency.

It is hard to answer this question since so many polymorphisms exist for folate.
The chemistry is very complex and it depends on where the errors are, in the conversion cycle. I would have no clue as to the details of that.

Folinic acid has been used for a long time as RX for people on Chemo. It is called Leucovorin and even is available in an IV form.

I have some days off coming tomorrow, so I will search around some.

But this whole situation is a huge bummer, and bad sign to me. I sure hope methylcobalamin does not suffer this same fate! :confused:

Metafolin
 

Solgar Vitamin company now has the rights to Metafolin and will be offering it in health food stores in June.

thank you for that info...
 

It is very welcome! (and needed)

I've sent an email to Solgar for any more details on this potential situation.
I could not find it on Google or their website.

FolaPro
 

I have found a single source methylfolate: It is made by Metagenics...

It is called FolaPro and is 800mcg/tablet.

It is expensive however, $26.00 for 120. (and higher at some other sellers)
You can Google it. Some sites sell only to doctors but I found one site
that sells to anyone.

I would call before ordering...to see if it is really in stock.
I found it at another forum, where they use it for autism (along with methylB12)

methylfolate info...
 

I did not receive an email answer.

So I called Solgar...and this is where it becomes exciting, but complex.

Tomorrow they will have marketing call me back for details, what I can say
on the net accurately, etc.

from http://www.aacc.org/publications/cln...stry_0208.aspx

I talked to the technical employee who said a single source methylfolate has not been decided upon as yet. However methylfolate is included in the above
new product line.

There is only one retailer in my area who has been trained in this so far.
So I am going to go there soon (I have a doctor appointment next Weds and is conveniently nearby) and check it out, it is a drive for me. So I will
be trying to save some gasoline.
Only about 100 retailers have been trained so far across the country. And perhaps in 3 months that will change.

So after I hear from the marketing department of Solgar, I may be posting more here.

Solgar to Introduce Metalfolin
 

Solgar will in fact be introducing Metafolin as well as methylcobalamin as stand only products in the latter part of June. Metafolin will be offered in both 400mcg and 800mcg tablets.

They do currently have Metafolin on the market in a combination product for homocysteine support in their new NutrigenomX line.

I do work in managment at Solgar so the above is factual. I hesitate to discuss further as I do not want to have this info percieved as me/Solgar using this forum as a commercial site. I just see the frustration of needing people looking for Metafolin and want to help.

I will let the forum know when the product is officially available. You can then make your own decisions if you pursue trying to purchase it in health food stores in your area.

Thank you for the update...
 

I never heard back from Solgar. <shrugs>

The tech I talked to in R and D...said no decision had been made yet about
stand alone methylfolate.

I sure hope it isn't going to be $25.00-$30.00 like FolaPro is.
Not many will buy it at that price range, IMO.
High prices are very dunning to people using many other supplements...there is a limit to how much they will pay, monthly out of pocket.
Since you are in management, Michael, please consider this issue. I've been on the net recommending things for over
10 yrs now...and I know about resistance and costs.

I was just wondering if there was any new news about methlyfolate? I read on another board that it was going to be available later this summer?

supposed
 

to be out in late June.

Don't know the exact date.

It is supposed to be available on iherb.com

So just keep checking there.

Folapro is still available at some places, but it is more
expensive:
http://www.webvitamins.com/product.a...FQEQGgodLxpkXQ

The Solgar one is supposed to be around $9.00 when it comes out. If you call Solgar up and see if a store near you carries
the new Nutrigenomx line...it is in there already.
But not all stores have it yet.

Solgar Metafolin ready to ship
 

Hello Everyone,

Just as an update on Metafolin from Solgar. It will be in fact introduced to the trade (retailers) officially this weekend at a tradeshow in Boston.
The reason for the delay was the new GMP laws kept the product in retain in our laboratory for 90 days (for potency guarantee).This is now standard procedure for new products. Product ready to ship to retailers are listed below:

Metafolin:
400mcg 50 tablets $7.70
400mcg 100 tablets $12.20

800mcg 50 tablets $9.40
800mcg 100 tablets $15.50

Hopefully it will be on the shelves in health food stores soon as well as websites such as Willner Chemist, Vitamin Shoppe and iherb among others. I know many of you have anxiously been waiting for this product.

Thanks for the update...
 

I'll be watching for it!;)

Solgar also introduced a stand-alone Metafolin and also a stand-alone Methylcobalamin (B12) in mid-October.

not getting
 

any hits on it yet a iherb or on the net.

The methylcobalamin is not so much of an issue...there are other sources of this.

The Metafolin is not showing up for me yet, using methylfolate or the name combined with Solgar.

source naturals, sending you a pm

Metafolin from Solgar available Nov 17th in iherb
 

:grouphug:Iherb just placed an order with Solgar for Metafolin 400mcg and 800 mcg in 100 size bottles. They should receive shipment this Friday 11-14 and be posted for sale by Monday 11-17 on their site.
Vitamin Shoppe should have in stores and website in next couple weeks.
Independent Health Food stores should also be ordering it.
400mcg 100 size @$12.20 and 800mcg 100 size @$15.50

Metafolin update
 

iherb just ordered and will have Solgar Metafolin available by Monday 11-17

Thanks Michael...
 

And Thanks to Solgar for getting this for the public.

I just checked...
 

Metafolin is now at iherb.com
http://www.iherb.com/Search.aspx?c=1&kw=metafolin

Thank you Solgar!

The Source Naturals product on that page is folinic acid.
A slightly different form of folate. (not as good as the MetaFolin one IMO)

AH! i see!

The prescription product, "Deplin", costs $47 for 30 7.5mg tablets. That's the CVS price. It could be cheaper at Costco or Wallmart.