IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 45 / Issue 5 / DOI: 10.12891/ceog4352.2018

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Original Research
Is calcium levofolinate pentahydrate more effective than folic acid in young healthy women before conception?
Show Less
1 Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Catania, Policlinico G. Rodolico, Catania, Italy
2 Reproductive Medicine Unit, HERA Center, Sant'Agata li Battiati, Catania, Italy
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2018, 45(5), 687–691; https://doi.org/10.12891/ceog4352.2018
Published: 10 October 2018
Abstract

Purpose of investigation: To assess whether l,5-formyl-tetrahydrofolic (levofolinic acid, LV) is better than folic acid (FA) to increase serum folate and to reduce homocysteine in healthy young women during reproductive age. Materials and Methods: Folate deficiency is related to a number of pregnancy complications. FA is a synthetic compound that has no biological functions unless it is reduced to tetrahydrofolate. Supplementation of an active form such as LV, could be a better alternative. The authors performed an 8-week 1:1 randomized, open label clinical trial in 40 healthy women aged between 18-40 years, with daily 4 mg LV or 400 mcg FA supplementation. Results: Serum folate were increased after LV or FA supplementation, as compared to baseline, without any significant differences within the two groups (p = 0.8). Homocysteine levels were reduced in both groups, by 31.6% (p < 0.001) and 26.3% (p < 0.001) respectively, however the reduction was much relevant in the LV group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Supplementation with LV seems to be more effective to reduce homocysteine levels.
Keywords
Folic acid
Levofolinic acid
Homocysteine
Folate
Share
Back to top