5-methyltetrahydrofolate

5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) is the primary biologically active form of folate used at the cellular level for DNA reproduction, the cysteine cycle, and the regulation of homocysteine. In a clinical study led by Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, 5-MTHF is being evaluated as an adjunctive immunomodulatory therapy for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D). The rationale is that 5-MTHF supplementation may improve the autoimmune status and preserve residual beta-cell function in T1D patients by modulating T-cell responses and reducing oxidative stress. Unlike synthetic folic acid, 5-MTHF does not require enzymatic conversion by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), making it immediately available for metabolic processes.

Other names

Levomefolic acid5-MTHFL-methylfolateactive folate