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VITAMINS
Methylfolate (glucosamine salt)
This active form of folate supports healthy cell division and methylation.
Also known as: L-methylfolate, 5-MTHF, L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, active folate, folate, 5-MTHF glucosamine salt, Methylfolate, glucosamine salt
At a glance
- Form
- Methylfolate, glucosamine salt
- Category
- Vitamins
- In an apiece formula
- 800 mcg a day (you can change it)
- Recommended intake
- 400 mcg DFE
- Upper limit
- 1,000 mcg a day of folic acid from supplements and fortified foods
- Studied for
- Energy & vitality*
- Reference
- NIH ODS: Folate fact sheet
What the research says
In young women, methylfolate raised red blood cell folate more than the same amount of folic acid.*
RCT (double-blind, placebo-controlled) · 144 · Lamers Y, Am J Clin Nutr 2006. Read the study on PubMed
Who should be careful
Our safety rules leave methylfolate out of a formula, or keep the amount lower, with:
Kept to a lower amount with
- Seizure medicine: carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital
- Valproate
- Other seizure medicine
- Phosphate binder
- Dialysis
- Chronic kidney disease
- Advanced kidney disease
Medicines and supplements
- Chemotherapy or targeted cancer pills
- Radiation therapy
- Cancer immunotherapy
Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding a supplement if you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition. Stay under the upper limit from all sources combined, including multivitamins.
Other forms of methylfolate
- Methylfolate, calcium salt
L-methylfolate is the active form of folate the body uses directly to support methylation and cell health.
Compare every form of methylfolate
Symptoms it’s studied for
From the Journal
- Are personalized vitamins worth it? Personalized blend vs a multivitamin
What a standard multivitamin does well, where it falls short, what research says about personalized nutrition, and how to tell whether a personalized blend makes sense for you.
- Folic acid vs methylfolate: does your MTHFR gene matter?
How folic acid and L-methylfolate differ, what an MTHFR variant does and doesn't mean, what the pregnancy guidance actually says, and the upper limit for folic acid.
- Which blood tests should you check before taking supplements?
The blood tests that can usefully guide supplements, what each one can and can't tell you, and when to recheck after you change what you take.
Questions
How much methylfolate a day?
apiece formulas usually include 800 mcg a day. The recommended intake for adults is 400 mcg DFE. Upper limit: 1,000 mcg a day of folic acid from supplements and fortified foods.
What is methylfolate used for?
This active form of folate supports healthy cell division and methylation. In apiece it is part of formulas for Energy & vitality.*
Who should be careful with methylfolate?
apiece’s safety rules leave it out or limit it with: Seizure medicine: carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital; Valproate; Other seizure medicine; Phosphate binder; Dialysis; Chronic kidney disease; Advanced kidney disease; Chemotherapy or targeted cancer pills; Radiation therapy; Cancer immunotherapy. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if any apply to you.
Can I get methylfolate in a personalized supplement?
Yes. apiece builds one daily blend around your goals and, if you have them, your lab results. Methylfolate can be part of it at the amount listed, with every ingredient shown and never more than 10 capsules a day.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This page is general information, not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or nursing, or have a health condition. Updated 2026-10-21.