L-5-MTHF
CAS 151533-22-1
Purity≥97.0%
Methylfolate material for folate and nutrition formulation work
Calcium L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Powder (CAS 151533-22-1), specification ≥97.0%. The calcium salt of L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, with salt identity and assay basis specified for ingredient qualification. Batch COA and evaluation samples are available. MOQ: 100 g. nutrition & functional ingredients
Quote / sample & delivery
Key Specifications
| Product Positioning | Methylfolate material for folate and nutrition formulation work |
| Application Scenarios | folate premixes · prenatal-nutrition formulation · stable tablet development |
| CAS Number | 151533-22-1 |
| Purity | ≥97.0% |
| Molecular Formula | C₂₀H₂₃CaN₇O₆ |
| Molecular Weight | 497.54 g/mol |
| Appearance | Light yellow powder |
| Solubility | Soluble in water |
| Storage | 2–8°C, protect from light and moisture |
| Shelf Life | 24 months |
Procurement & delivery
Supply details confirmed by intended use, volume and target market
Calcium L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-5-MTHF, CAS 151533-22-1) is the calcium salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, the principal biologically active form of folate (vitamin B9) that circulates naturally in human blood and occurs in leafy vegetables, legumes and liver. Unlike synthetic folic acid, L-5-MTHF is the form the body uses directly in one-carbon metabolism without requiring conversion by the MTHFR enzyme. With molecular formula C20H23CaN7O6 and molecular weight 497.54 g/mol, it appears as a light yellow powder. Commercial bulk material is typically produced via a biosynthesis-based route: a tetrahydrofolate precursor is generated by microbial fermentation or controlled reduction of folic acid, then stereoselectively methylated under enzymatic catalysis (mirroring the natural methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase reaction) to yield the active (6S) isomer, followed by calcium salt formation, crystallization and purification to pharmaceutical-grade purity.
High-Purity Active Folate
Assayed at ≥97.0% purity by validated HPLC methods, with each batch supported by an EP/ISO-compliant certificate of analysis.
Controlled Biosynthetic Production
Produced via an enzymatic, stereoselective methylation process that tightly controls (6S) isomer content and minimizes process-related impurities batch to batch.
Consistent Light Yellow Powder
Delivered as a free-flowing, uniform light yellow powder with consistent particle size for reliable handling and dosing in downstream formulations.
Rigorous Contaminant Screening
Every batch is screened for heavy metals (Pb, As, Hg, Cd) and microbial limits, ensuring compliance with pharmaceutical and food-grade raw material requirements.
Flexible Bulk & OEM Supply
Available in flexible bulk quantities with OEM/private-label packaging, custom blending and documentation support for supplement, pharma and food fortification customers.
Test items, specifications and results for the listed batch are shown here. View or request a COA in the quality documents section.
Batch No.
PGL5-260114
Test date
2026-01-15
Specification
In-house
Pack size
20kg/carton
Storage
2–8°C, protect from light and moisture
Conclusion
Conforms
| Test Item | Specification | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Light yellow powder | Light yellow powder, complies |
| Odor | Odorless or faint characteristic odor | Complies |
| Assay (HPLC, on dried basis) | ≥97.0% | 98.2% |
| Identification (UV/IR) | Conforms to reference spectrum | Conforms |
| Specific Rotation [α]D20 (c=1, H2O) | +12° to +18° | +15.4° |
| Particle Size (through 80 mesh) | ≥95% | 98% |
| Loss on Drying | ≤8.0% | 5.8% |
| Lead (Pb) | ≤10 ppm | <5 ppm |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤2 ppm | <1 ppm |
| Mercury (Hg) | ≤1 ppm | <0.5 ppm |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ≤1 ppm | <0.5 ppm |
| Total Plate Count | ≤1000 CFU/g | <100 CFU/g |
| Yeast & Mold | ≤100 CFU/g | <10 CFU/g |
| E. coli / Salmonella | Negative/25 g | Negative |
View an available COA in the quality documents section. Check the document for its product form and batch; request a signed COA for your purchasing or shipment batch separately.
Hard capsules
Tablets
Nutrition powders
Fortified foods
Confirm calcium-salt mass, active folate and L-configuration; folic acid and methylfolate masses are not interchangeable.
98.2%
Assay (HPLC, on dried basis)
PGL5-260114 · Results apply to this lot; interpret purity, assay and water on their respective bases.
Composition candidates, processing sequences and tests support pilot design. Confirm candidate excipients and processes using this material in the actual finished formulation.
Application examples follow the materials, formats and findings actually studied. Combination studies, single-ingredient studies, commercial precedents and development candidates are distinguished.
Calcium-salt mass, active L-5-MTHF and folate-label equivalents differ; harmonize the comparison basis first.
Show research and formulation insights +Hide details −Combination / selection rationale: Calcium-salt mass, active L-5-MTHF and folate-label equivalents differ; harmonize the comparison basis first.
Published evidence / source details: A 2018 12-week trial in 142 women compared equimolar L-5-MTHF and folic acid. Blood folate was higher with L-5-MTHF, without a between-treatment difference in homocysteine lowering.
Development insights: Record active moiety, water and L-configuration for calcium salt. Premix low levels with carrier and assay blend positions, filled units and light/moisture retention; study milligrams are not automatically calcium-salt powder mass.
Evidence scope: Single-ingredient comparison informs selection, not all methylfolate blends or fixed efficacy multipliers.
2018 · l-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Supplementation Increases Blood Folate Concentrations to a Greater Extent than Folic Acid Supplementation in Malaysian Women. · DOI 10.1093/jn/nxy057 ↗Folate, B12 and B6 have distinct metabolic roles requiring separate formulation targets and assays.
Show research and formulation insights +Hide details −Combination / selection rationale: Folate, B12 and B6 have distinct metabolic roles requiring separate formulation targets and assays.
Published evidence / source details: The 2018 study measured B12 and methyl-nutrient metabolites but compared L-5-MTHF, folic acid and placebo rather than this fixed three-vitamin combination.
Development insights: Prepare separately assayed vitamin premixes, specifying B12 form and P5P versus pyridoxine. Measure unit assays, light/moisture stability and total B-vitamin loading; B12 colour is not a folate-uniformity test.
Evidence scope: Biochemical/formulation candidate; folic-acid blend trials do not validate this exact calcium-salt blend.
2018 · l-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Supplementation Increases Blood Folate Concentrations to a Greater Extent than Folic Acid Supplementation in Malaysian Women. · DOI 10.1093/jn/nxy057 ↗Folate- and betaine-dependent remethylation are distinct routes, with separate composition and total-loading considerations.
Show research and formulation insights +Hide details −Combination / selection rationale: Folate- and betaine-dependent remethylation are distinct routes, with separate composition and total-loading considerations.
Published evidence / source details: The 2018 trial measured choline/betaine metabolites without testing coadministration to establish blend superiority.
Development insights: Premix minor folate before adding bulk choline/betaine. Test segregation, moisture and caking; assay active folate and partner separately and calculate choline-salt or betaine loading independently.
Evidence scope: Retains the development direction without treating measured metabolites as tested coingredients.
2018 · l-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Supplementation Increases Blood Folate Concentrations to a Greater Extent than Folic Acid Supplementation in Malaysian Women. · DOI 10.1093/jn/nxy057 ↗Literature-Supported Research Directions
In a 24-week randomized placebo-controlled trial of 167 healthy volunteers, low-dose L-5-MTHF increased plasma and red-cell folate and lowered total homocysteine. On an equimolar basis it was at least as effective as folic acid for homocysteine lowering. This is a biomarker study, not evidence of disease prevention.
Citation: Venn et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 77 (2003), 658–662. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/77.3.658.View source
In a 12-week randomized trial of 142 Malaysian women, L-5-MTHF produced higher red-cell and plasma folate than equimolar folic acid, while both lowered homocysteine similarly. The study did not establish superiority for pregnancy or clinical outcomes.
Citation: Henderson et al., Journal of Nutrition 148 (2018), 885–890. DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxy057.View source
A two-year randomized trial used calcium L-5-MTHF with vitamins B12 and B6 in older adults with elevated homocysteine. Although homocysteine was lowered, cognitive performance did not improve versus placebo. This negative outcome is important when setting evidence boundaries for methylation formulas.
Citation: McMahon et al., New England Journal of Medicine 354 (2006), 2764–2772. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa054025.View source
Note: For ingredient R&D and scientific information; findings depend on model, dose, formulation and population and do not constitute a treatment claim or efficacy guarantee.
Lead Time
3–5business days
Standard products are generally in stock; confirm the exact lead time with us.
Minimum Order
100 g
Samples, pilot trials, and commercial volumes are supported.
Foil Pouch
Sealed, moisture-protective inner packaging
Insulated Box + Carton
For products requiring temperature-controlled transport
Bulk Shipping
Palletized and stretch-wrapped for protection
Ambient storage: foil pouch + fiber drum; temperature controlled: foil pouch + insulated box/carton. Confirm by product.
Custom packaging: Custom foil bags or HDPE drums, GMP label printing, and export documentation are available. Contact us for a quote.Images are packaging illustrations.
Certifications
EP
European Pharmacopoeia
Microbial Fermentation / Precursor Generation
An engineered microbial strain (or a controlled chemical reduction step starting from folic acid) generates the dihydrofolate/tetrahydrofolate precursor required for downstream biocatalytic conversion.
Enzymatic Reduction to Tetrahydrofolate
The precursor is enzymatically reduced to tetrahydrofolate (THF) under controlled temperature, pH and cofactor supply, establishing the reduced folate backbone.
Stereoselective Enzymatic Methylation
A methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)-type biocatalyst introduces the methyl group at the N5 position with high stereoselectivity, yielding the active L-5-MTHF (6S) free acid.
Cell Separation and Clarification
Biomass and cellular debris are removed by filtration/centrifugation, and the clarified fermentation broth is concentrated for further processing.
Chromatographic Purification
The concentrate undergoes chromatographic purification to remove residual isomers, unreacted precursors and process-related impurities, enriching the target L-5-MTHF.
Calcium Salt Formation
Purified L-5-MTHF free acid is converted to its calcium salt under controlled pH and stoichiometry, improving stability for downstream isolation.
Crystallization and Drying
The calcium salt is crystallized from aqueous solution under light-protected, low-oxygen conditions, then dried under controlled temperature to preserve chemical integrity.
Milling, QC Release and Packaging
The dried crystals are milled and sieved to the target particle size, tested against full release specifications, then packaged under nitrogen/light-protected conditions.
Purity is determined by reversed-phase HPLC against a reference standard, quantifying the L-5-MTHF calcium content on a dried basis while resolving related folate isomers and degradation products. Because 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is light- and oxygen-sensitive, buyers should confirm the batch-specific certificate of analysis, the chiral (6S) purity, storage conditions used prior to shipment, and request a retention/stability statement when placing bulk orders.
Commercial calcium L-5-MTHF products include capsules and tablets, while regulatory assessments also cover selected food-fortification uses. Confirm folate-equivalent calculations, assay overage, moisture/light protection and market-specific limits. Vitamin B12 status and medication interactions require appropriate label review.
Calcium L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate powder has a product purity specification of ≥97.0%. COA PGL5-260815 separately reports assay of 100.1% within a 95.0–102% range. Compare purity and assay using their respective methods, reference standards and calculation bases.
It is produced via a biosynthesis-based route: a tetrahydrofolate precursor is generated by microbial fermentation or controlled reduction, then converted to the active (6S) isomer through enzymatic, stereoselective methylation, followed by calcium salt formation, crystallization and purification.
L-5-MTHF calcium is soluble in water and can be used in tablets, capsules, oral liquids and premixes. Due to its sensitivity to light, oxygen and low pH, light-protective packaging and mildly buffered aqueous systems are recommended.
Yes, small evaluation samples with an accompanying certificate of analysis are available on request so you can verify purity, appearance and compatibility before committing to a bulk purchase.
Yes, customers are welcome to send samples to an independent laboratory of their choice for verification, and we can coordinate additional testing (e.g., residual solvents, chiral purity) on request.
Yes, we support OEM/private-label packaging, custom blending with other actives or excipients, and documentation support (specifications, CoA templates, regulatory dossiers) tailored to your brand requirements.
Calcium L-5-MTHF powder pack options are 100 g, 500 g, 1 kg. Special inner-packaging, labeling and transport requirements are agreed separately for the order.
The raw-material MOQ for calcium L-5-MTHF powder is 100 g, with pack options of 100 g, 500 g, 1 kg. Qualification should also verify L-configuration, calcium-salt identity and assay basis.
Record exact salt and solid form, concentration, pH, light exposure, oxygen conditions, temperature and duration, formula matrix, package and assay method. A batch-release COA is not a finished-product shelf-life study.
Do not interpret a reported assay as a literal mass fraction without its method and basis. Review the reference-standard assignment, water and solvent corrections and agreed limits. Batch PGL5-260815 reports assay 100.1% within its 95.0-102% specification.
Specify calcium L-5-MTHF, the active-folate basis and applicable water correction before calculating loading. Validate L-configuration, individual-vitamin assays and trace-level uniformity; neither B12 colour nor total blend weight measures folate content. Folic-acid blend evidence does not automatically validate a methylfolate blend.
Documents are subject to product and batch availability; third-party reports are provided only when applicable.
Quality documents
The specification sheet defines acceptance limits. The COA shows actual batch results, which may vary by batch. Third-party reports are provided only for products or batches that have been independently tested.
Stable acceptance criteria · Available on request
Actual test data · Check the COA for the applicable batch
Technical Resources
Review 6S calcium-salt identity, real batch assay and water, then assess light, pH and heat in the actual formulation and package.
The MTHFR gene has become a genuine consumer talking point, driving demand for "active folate." Fewer buyers ask the more precise question: is the 5-MTHF you're sourcing actually the single active isomer, or a mixture?
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