Introducing L-methylfolate, the natural active form of folate : Neevo

Introducing L-methylfolate – the natural, active form of folate

Neevo^® is a new approach to prenatal care. Rather than relying upon synthetic folate acid, Neevo^® contains one full mg of L-methylfolate and is uniquely indicated for the distinct nutritional needs of both high risk pregnancies and older pregnancies.

Neevo^® caplets are a prescription medical food for the dietary management of those women under a physician's treatment for vitamin deficiency throughout pregnancy, postnatal and the lactating periods. Neevo^® is specifically indicated for: patients with high risk pregnancies, older OB patients, and patients unable to fully metabolize folic acid.

L-methylfolate is 7x more bioavailable than folic acid

Folic acid requires a four-step process to become active folate, Neevo^® does not.

As shown below, the administration of folic acid was compared to administration of l-methylfolate (5-MTHF). The resulting peak concentration of l-methylfolate is seven times higher as compared to folic acid, 129 ng mL-1 versus 14.1 ng mL-1 (P<0.001)⁵

L-methylfolate bypasses the MTHFR C677T folate polymorphism

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More than half of all women in the U.S. have the CC or CT form of the 677 folate polymorphism⁶. As such, these patients cannot fully metabolize synthetic folic acid. These patient lack sufficient MTHFR enzymes needed to convert 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate into L-methylfolate. Oral doses of L-methylfolate bypass that limitation.

Neevo^® provides an effective solution for patients who cannot fully metabolize folic acid. L-methylfolate is immediately available to the body's cells. L-methylfolate has been shown to provide several key benefits over folic acid:

L-methylfolate increases RBC folate better than folic acid.²
L-methylfolate reduces the estimated risk of NTD better than folic acid.⁴
L-methylfolate reduces homocysteine better than folic acid.³

Many patients can benefit from Neevo^® and the use of active folate

Neevo^® is specifically indicated for patients with:

High risk pregnancies
MTHFR C->T folate polymorphism (not able to fully metabolize folic acid)
Personal or family history of problem pregnancies and/or miscarriages caused by sustained or prolonged folate depletion
Older OB patients

References:

Walker MJ Jr, Morris LM. Vascular Disease Management. 2007; 2 (1): 1-8.
Lamers Yvonne, Prinz-Langenohl Reinhild, Bramswig Susanne, and Pietrzik Klaus: Red blood cell folate concentrations increase more after supplementation with [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate than with folic acid in women of childbearing age. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84:156-61
B Akoglu, M Schrott, H Bolouri, A Jaffari, E Kutschera, WF Caspary and D Faust: The Folic Acid Metabolite L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Effectively Reduces Total Serum Homocysteine Level in Orthoto pic Liver Transplant Recipients: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007), 1-6
Lamers Y, Prinz-Langenohl R, Bramswig S, Pietrzik K. Natural folate form for prevention of neural tube defects: Effect of supplementation with [6S]-5-methyltetrahydorfolate versus folic acid on red cell folate concentration. CUVILLIER VERLAG, Gottingen 2006 pp 43-59: ISBN 3-86537-756-4
Willems FF, Boers GH, Blom HJ, et al. Pharmacokinetic Study on the Utilization of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and Folic Acid in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease. Br J Pharmacol 2004;141:825-830.
Molloy Anne M, Daly Sean, Mills James L, Kirke Peader N, Whitehead Alexander S, Ramsbottom Dorothy, Conley Mary R, Weir Donald G, and Scott John M: Thermolabile variant of 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase associated with low red-cell folates: implications for folate intake recommendations. The Lancet 1997;Vol 349:1591-93.
Scott, J.M. et al. The Methylfolate Trap. A Physiological Response in Man to Prevetn Methyl Group Deficiency in Kwashiokor and an Explanation for Folic-Acid-Induced Exacerbation of Subacute Combined Degeneration in Pernicious Anemia, Lancet, 1981 2:337-340