Folic Acid

Category: vitamin

Aliases: Vitamin B9, Pteroylmonoglutamic acid, Synthetic folate

Pharmacological Mechanism

Synthetic fully-oxidised form. Reduced in vivo by DHFR to tetrahydrofolate (see [[folate_one_carbon]]) (THF), then to 5,10-methylene-THF and 5-methyl-THF (5-MTHF). DHFR capacity is finite — unmetabolised folic acid (UMFA) appears in plasma at doses >400 mcg, with uncertain long-term significance. MTHFR C677T homozygotes convert folic acid to 5-MTHF less efficiently (rationale for [[methylfolate]] supplementation).

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 5h

Dosing Guidelines

Target Organ Systems

Interactions