Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine (also known as L-5-MTHF glucosamine) is a bioactive form of folate used in dietary supplements. Folate is a B-vitamin essential for DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation, and it plays a critical role in fetal neural tube development during pregnancy. Scientific evidence strongly supports the use of folate supplementation to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida and anencephaly. While most prenatal supplements use folic acid, L-5-MTHF is the naturally occurring, biologically active form of folate that can be directly utilized by the body without the need for enzymatic conversion. This is particularly relevant for individuals with genetic polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene, which can impair the conversion of folic acid to its active form.

Clinical guidelines universally recommend folate supplementation before and during early pregnancy, and L-5-MTHF is increasingly used in place of folic acid in some prenatal supplements. Studies suggest that L-5-MTHF is as effective as folic acid in raising blood folate levels, and it may offer advantages for those with impaired folic acid metabolism. The glucosamine salt form is used for stability and absorption, but it does not alter the biological activity of the folate. Thus, the use of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine to support pregnancy is well-supported by scientific evidence for the prevention of NTDs.

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