13C5-calcium-L-leucovorin

13C5-calcium-L-leucovorin is a stable-isotope-labeled form of calcium L-leucovorin (folinic acid) containing five carbon-13 atoms. It is primarily utilized as a metabolic tracer in clinical research to study folate absorption, bioavailability, and systemic kinetics in humans. Unlike radioactive tracers, the 13C5 label is a stable isotope, making it safe for use in sensitive populations such as children and pregnant women. In clinical studies, such as those investigating colonic folate absorption, it allows researchers to differentiate between administered folate and endogenous folate pools by measuring the enrichment of the labeled compound in the systemic circulation using mass spectrometry. It functions biologically as a substrate for folate transport systems, including the reduced folate carrier and the proton-coupled folate transporter.

Other names

[13C5]-calcium-L-leucovorin[13C5]-folinic acid13C5-labeled leucovorincalcium L-5-formyltetrahydrofolate [13C5]