Evidence supporting the use of: Folinic acid
For the health condition: Depression
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Folinic acid (also known as leucovorin) is a form of folate, a B-vitamin involved in methylation and neurotransmitter synthesis. The rationale for its use in depression is based on the observation that folate deficiency is relatively common in patients with depression, and that impaired folate metabolism may contribute to poor response to antidepressants. Folinic acid is a metabolically active form of folate and can bypass certain genetic polymorphisms (e.g., MTHFR mutations) that hinder the conversion of folic acid to its active form.
A limited number of clinical studies and small trials have explored the use of folinic acid or closely related forms (such as L-methylfolate) as adjunctive therapy for depression, especially in individuals with low folate levels or relevant genetic variants. Some evidence suggests that supplementation may improve depressive symptoms in these subgroups, particularly when used alongside standard antidepressant treatments. However, the overall quality of evidence is low to moderate, with small sample sizes and methodological limitations. Most guidelines do not recommend routine use of folinic acid for depression in the general population, though it may be considered in specific cases of documented folate deficiency or genetic impairments in folate metabolism.
In summary, while there is some scientific basis and emerging research supporting the adjunctive use of folinic acid in select patients with depression, the evidence is not robust enough to justify widespread use, and further large-scale, high-quality studies are needed.
Other ingredients used for Depression
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)Acetyl L-carnitine
algal oil
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
amino acids
anchovies
anthocyanins
ashwagandha
Waterhyssop
basil
bergamot
beta caryophyllene
Bifidobacterium longum
black tea
Indian frankincense
bасора
caffeine
Cannabis sativa oil
chamomile
Chinese salvia root
choline
citicoline
clove
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
cordyceps
creatine monohydrate
turmeric
curcumin
damiana
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
eleuthero
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fish oil
fish protein
flavonols
folate
gardenia
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginseng
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
green tea
hemp oil
Indian tinospora
inositol
jujube
krill oil
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
L-carnosine
L-glycine
L-methionine
L-phenylalanine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
lactium casein decapeptide
lavender
lion's mane
lithium orotate
liquid liver fractions
luteolin
maca
magnesium
magnolia
Marine lipid
Matcha
Melatonin
Moringa
Muira puama
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
omega-3 fatty acids
phenolic compounds
phosphatidylserine
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phytocannabinoids
polygala root
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prebiotic blend (proprietary)
pregnenolone
protein
butyric acid
quercetin
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
Rhodiola
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saffron
sage
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sceletium
selenium
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
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spirulina
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Valerian root
velvet bean
vitamin B
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suma
gastrodia
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kanna
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dodder
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polyphenols
trace minerals
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cocoa
thyroid substance
star of Bethlehem
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
arginine creatine
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apigenin
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Alpha lactalbumin
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aniracetam
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biopterin
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brahmi
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bee products
bacoside
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biogenic amine
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crocin
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curcumen
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chocolate
creatine
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cannabidiol
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cannabichromene
docosahexaenoic Acid
D-phenylalanine
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devil\'s club
dopamine
egg
Eicosatetraenoic acid
eicosapentaenoic acid
estrogen
folinic acid
folic acid
flavonoids
fragrant rosewood
fish
fatty acids
fungus
frankincense
guanidinoacetic acid
Ginsenosides
Griffonia simplicifolia
Gypenoside
Glutamate
Glycine
gastrodin
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Hypericin
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hyperforin
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hericium mushroom
hemp
isoliquiritigenin
long pepper
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inositol phosphate
jasmine
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