An interventional study of Folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, calcium salt in One-carbon Metabolism in Healthy Individuals, sponsored by University of British Columbia. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to female participants aged 20 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-08-15.
Sponsored by University of British Columbia · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
Periconceptional supplementation with folic acid - the synthetic form of the B-vitamin folate - reduces the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spina bifida. The underlying biochemical mechanisms for how folic acid affects health outcomes however are unknown. The naturally occurring form 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) is now available and discussed as an adequate substitute to folic acid. This study aims to determine the effect of folic acid compared to 5-MTHF on cellular mechanisms. Stable isotope tracer protocols will be used that allow determining the effect of folic acid on the dynamics of metabolic pathways in the human body.
Hypothesis: Supplementation with high-dose folic acid alters the turnover rate of folate dependent pathways in healthy humans; but 5-MTHF does not. Genetic variations in a key enzyme of the folate metabolism will aggravate the effect of folic acid on the metabolic pathways.
University of British Columbia is the lead sponsor of 1,309 studies on the registry; 253 are open to participants now.
Of its 6 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 1 (17%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Folic acid will be given orally in form of tablets. A supplement of 1 mg will be taken daily for 12 weeks. Thereafter, a supplement of 5 mg will be taken daily for 12 weeks (i.e., until Week 24). At baseline, Week 12, and Week 24, subjects will receive a 9-hour primed constant infusion of amino acids in saline solution for quantification of kinetics of one-carbon metabolism.
Dietary Supplement: Folic acid
The calcium salt of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF; Brand name "Metafolin") will be given orally in form of tablets. A supplement of 1 mg will be taken daily for 12 weeks. Thereafter, a supplement of 5 mg will be taken daily for 12 weeks (i.e., until Week 24). At baseline, Week 12, and Week 24, subjects will receive a 9-hour primed constant infusion of amino acids in saline solution for quantification of kinetics of one-carbon metabolism.
Dietary Supplement: 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, calcium salt
Supplement
Also known as: Pteroylmonoglutamic acid
Supplement
Also known as: 5-MTHF, Metafolin (brand name), Levomefolic acid
Plateau enrichment of infused amino acid tracers and related metabolites to quantify turnover rates of folate dependent pathways
Time frame: 24 weeks
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of British Columbia