Folic Acid Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Folic Acid, including details on folate, deficiency, pregnancy, benefits, sources, side-effects.

Reduced in vivo oxidative stress following 5-methyltetrahydrofolate supplementation in patients with early-onset thrombosis and 677TT methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotype.

Coppola A, D'Angelo A, Fermo I, Mazzola G, Di Minno MN, Cajani A, Sala A, Folco G, Tremoli E, Di Minno G

Regional Reference Centre for Coagulation Disorders, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 'Federico II' University, Naples, Italy. antocopp@unina.it

The protective role of folate in vascular disease has been related to antioxidant effects. In 45 patients with previous early-onset (at age <50 years) thrombotic episodes and the 677TT methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotype, we evaluated the effects of a 28 d-course (15 mg/d) of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF) on homocysteine metabolism and on in vivo generation of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha), a reliable marker of oxidative stress. At baseline, patients' fasting total homocysteine (tHcy) was 11.5 micromol/l (geometric mean) and urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF2alpha was 304 pg/mg creatinine, with the highest metabolite levels in the lowest quartile of plasma folate distribution (P < 0.05). After 5-MTHF supplementation, plasma folate levels increased approximately 13-fold (P < 0.0001 versus baseline); tHcy levels (6.7 micromol/l, P < 0.0001) and urinary 8-iso-PGF2alpha (254 pg/mg creatinine, P < 0.001) were both significantly lowered, their reduction being proportional to baseline values (r = 0.98 and r = 0.77, respectively) and maximal in patients with the lowest pre-supplementation folate levels (P < 0.05). The effects on folate (P < 0.0001) and tHcy (P = 0.0004) persisted for at least up to 2 months after withdrawing 5-MTHF. In parallel with long-lasting tHcy-lowering effects, a short-course 5-MTHF supplementation reduces in vivo formation of 8-iso-PGF2alpha in this population, supporting the antioxidant protective effects of folate in vascular disease.

Published 21 September 2005 in Br J Haematol, 131(1): 100-8.
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