Oops...meant Leucovorin and MTHFR

[NancyD]

The second step -- tetrahydrofolate

 

Thanks!

 

Which step in the pathway is the folinic acid, do you know?

 

 

From what I have read in the study they are prescribing 2 mg/kg Leucovorin divided into two doses (maximum 50 mg daily). The dose was increased over a 2-week period.

 

Yes, there is a difference between folinic acid (5-formyl tetrahydrofolate) and methyfolate and I hope I can explain this accurately.

 

There are 4 steps to converting folic acid into L-methyfolate: folic acid > (1) dihydrofolate > (2) tetrahydrofolate > (3) 5, 10 methylene THF > (4) 5-methyfolate.

 

So folinic acid is one step in the conversion process. Those with heterozygous 677 MTHFR may have difficulty converting folic acid into L-methylfolate and those with homozygous 677 MTHFR will have greater difficulty converting folic acid into L-methyfolate. Ordinarily you would give L-methylfolate, rather than folinic acid, to an individual with homozygous 677 MTHFR in order to by-pass the whole conversion process. However, if the individual also has a positive folate receptor (FR) blocking antibody (meaning an antibody that blocks the binding of folic acid to the folate receptor) or binding autoantibodies against the folate receptor (this is abnormal), this presents an additional problem. And, if there is a COMT mutation this may further complicate the process. This is where I start to get lost and am trying to figure it out.

 

Perhaps someone else might want to add to this?

 

I have read about doctors dosing at 1 mg/kg. My son is 100 pounds, so that's 45 kilograms. Is that the kind of dosage you are talking about? We saw great results with reducing/eliminating anxiety and bedwetting at lower dosages, but those tics and that low-level OCD just won't go away.

 

Also, is there supposed to be a pharmacological difference between leucovorin and the OTC methylfolate supplements? Aren't they the same active compound?

 

Thanks!

 

So his blocking antibodies are low positive and binding antibodies are negative? My DD's blocking antibodies are negative and binding antibodies are low positive. Is he 677 or 1298 MTHFR? Homozygous or heterozygous? Did you ever try methylfolate to treat or did you go right to leucovorin? Did he experience any side effects? What kind of improvements are you seeing? Thanks!

 

My son has been on Leucovorin (folinic acid) for the past 7 months. We have only recently begun to see benefits after his dose was increased to 1 mg/kg/day divided into three doses. We are still holding our breath that he continues to improve on this higher dose. BTW, his cerebral spinal fluid showed low MTHF, his serum folate was normal, and his blocking antibodies on Dr. Quadros' test were low positive.