5-Methyltetrahydrofolate

Also known as: folic acid, methylfolate, 5-mthf, folacin, l-methylfolate

B vitamin critical for DNA synthesis and cell division. Especially important during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. Folic acid is the synthetic form.

400mcg DFERDARecommended Dietary Allowance — the daily intake sufficient for 97-98% of healthy adults. Set by the National Institutes of Health.

1000mcgUpper LimitTolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) — the maximum daily dose unlikely to cause adverse health effects. Exceeding this consistently may increase toxicity risk.

28ProductsNumber of supplements in our database that contain this ingredient.

2Health ClaimsNumber of researched health benefits associated with this ingredient, rated by evidence strength (strong/moderate/weak).

2Side EffectsNumber of documented side effects from clinical literature and adverse event reports.

Health Claims & Evidence

strongPrevents neural tube defects

Adequate folate intake before and during early pregnancy reduces risk of neural tube defects. This is one of the most well-established findings in nutrition.

51 studies on PubMed

Related studies:Automatically retrieved from PubMed based on keyword matching. Some may not directly address the specific claim above.Folic acid versus 5- methyl tetrahydrofolate supplementation in pregnancy.Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol (2020) · PMID 32868164 Folate, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are not the same thing.Xenobiotica (2014) · PMID 24494987 Supplementation with Folic Acid or 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate and Prevention of Neural Tube Defects: An Evidence-Based Narrative Review.Nutrients (2024) · PMID 39339754

strongSupports DNA synthesis

Essential cofactor for nucleotide synthesis and cell division.

22 studies on PubMed

Related studies:Automatically retrieved from PubMed based on keyword matching. Some may not directly address the specific claim above.Pleiotropic effects of methionine adenosyltransferases deregulation as determinants of liver cancer progression and prognosis.J Hepatol (2013) · PMID 23665184 Vitamins, Vascular Health and Disease.Nutrients (2025) · PMID 41010482 Association of MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism with breast cancer risk: A case-control study and meta-analysis.J Cancer Res Ther (2022) · PMID 36412394

Known Side Effects

may mask B12 deficiency
rare allergic reactions

Drug Interactions

methotrexate
anti-epileptic drugs
sulfasalazine

Always consult your healthcare provider before combining supplements with medications.

Health Claims & Evidence

Known Side Effects

Drug Interactions

Products Containing 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (28)