Scientific Publications
Supplementation with [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate or folic acid equally reduces serum homocysteine concentrations in older adults
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, NA, NA
Folic acid (FA) supplementation reduces the elevated serum homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations.
[6 S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate ([6 S]-5-MTHF) is an alternative to FA due to possible advantages,
that is, no masking cobalamin deficiency. The study aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of
[6 S]-5-MTHF in relations to FA supplementation in reducing the serum Hcy. Healthy volunteers,
aged 50–65, had normal serum folate and did not use supplements with B-vitamins for 6 months.
Forty subjects were divided into two groups: receiving 400 lg/d FA or the equimolar amount of
[6 S]-5-MTHF. Blood was collected at baseline and after 4 weeks. In both groups, a significant
decrease in the mean Hcy level after intervention period was observed. Supplementation with
[6 S]-5-MTHF was slightly less effective, but not significantly, in Hcy lowering than FA (p¼.243
between the groups), that is, by 7.8% and 13.4%, respectively. The [6 S]-5-MTHF was shown to be
an adequate alternative to FA in reducing Hcy concentrations.
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, NA, NA
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