The Best L-Methylfolate Supplement Brands in 2022 (Ranked)

Choosing your L-Methylfolate supplement shouldn’t be a matter of simply picking any product off the shelf. Brands vary significantly in terms of quality and effectiveness, and it’s worth doing some research before making a purchase.

The best methylfolate brands are those that use high-quality ingredients from reputable, verified sources. They also tend to base their formulas on scientific research to ensure optimal results.

There are some excellent brands on the market that tick all of these boxes, and Methyl-Life® is one of them. We will explain why below.

As you may already know, L methylfolate is the active form of folate. However, methylfolate can vary according to its structure and processing. A number of features can define a methylfolate as the “best."

The purity of a compound is directly related to its efficacy in the body. Achieving the optimal particle size can improve the delivery of active ingredients¹ as well as enhance the overall qualities of other raw materials.

Magnafolate® PRO is created through sonification, a proprietary process that micronizes molecule size more effectively than grinding. This results in an impurity level of only 0.2-0.3%, which is three times purer than the other leading methylfolate supplement. Magnafolate® PRO exceeds the USP standard at its ~99%² pure form of methylfolate and has a total impurity of less than 1% while USP standards only require 97.5% purity.

The higher the level of purity, the more stable a product is, and the longer it will remain potent and effective. A laboratory investigation of more than 5,000 compounds found that of all the factors investigated, the initial purity of the compound was the only factor that had a clear effect on stability³. This suggests that the best methylfolates should be as pure as possible in order to maintain their potency.

The natural form of the reduced folates is the(6S,αS) diastereoisomer, which has greater biological activity⁴ than the (6R,αS) isomer.

In other words, the L or (6S) isomer of methylfolate is the chemically active form. These may be referred to as: 

• (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, calciumsalt or L-methylfolate
• (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolicacid, monosodium salt or L-methyltetrahydrofolate, glucosamine salt.

Any form of methylfolate labeled as DL-5-MTHF, 5-Methylfolate, 6RS-5-MTHF, and 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate will likely contain more than 1% of the D or 6R isomer form of methylfolate (and typically up to 50% of that inactive form), and will not be pure biologically active methylfolate. It is especially important for individuals with MTHFR gene mutations who have difficulty converting folic acid to its active form, which can lead to folate deficiency and related health issues.

Methyl-Life® dominates the other methylfolate supplements in the market for a number of reasons. Every product in the Methyl-Life® range has been developed according to scientific research and formulated by a team of medical experts. All ingredients are certified for purity and efficacy and sourced from reputable suppliers.

The facility in which our supplements are manufactured is cGMP registered and NSF certified, which means that it exceeds the FDA’s highest quality standards.

Above all, Methyl-Life® uses the internationally patented Magnafolate® PRO, one of the world’s two leading patents for active L-methylfolate, calcium. Magnafolate® PRO is a premium(6S)-L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate that has been clinically tested at 99.9% purity. This ensures maximum solubility and absorption of the active folate and an absorption rate of up to 78%⁸.

Magnafolate® PRO is a patented Type C crystalline salt form that is absorbed even more readily than the Type I crystalline salt form most pharmaceutical products use. Both forms have excellent stability and a very low rate of potency loss (1-2% per year). Other forms (such as amorphous salts) have a loss of up to 16% per year.

When compared with ordinary folate, Magnafolate® PRO was found to be absorbed faster and utilized more quickly in the body⁹. A recent study found that L-5-MTHF-Ca significantly improved immune function following just five weeks of supplementation.¹⁰

Methylfolate 2.5 is an excellent entry-level product. It contains Magnafolate® PRO in a low but highly bioavailable 2,500mcg dose, which is suitable for those who are new to methylfolate supplementation. It may also be combined with other products from the Methyl-Life® range that already contain methylfolate.

L-methylfolate supplements from Methyl-Life® come in a variety of dosages, including 2.5 mg, 5mg, 7.5 mg (with active b12), 10 mg, and 15 mg. The chewable form makes for easy dosing on the go, and customers love the taste.

All Methyl-Life® products are free from wheat, gluten, starch, soy, egg, dairy, fish/shellfish, yeast, nuts, animal-derived ingredients, caffeine, artificial colorings/flavorings, preservatives, bisphenol-A (BPA), or phthalate.

• Type of Methylfolate: 6S-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate,Calcium as Magnafolate® PRO

MethylPro is a reputable supplement brand specializing in methylate supplements. All products are made with active ingredients and include a variety of strengths and formulations free from wheat(gluten), eggs, milk, soybeans, shellfish, fish, peanuts, and tree nuts.

The Methyl-Pro range includes a variety of L-methylfolate strengths (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg). It also includes B vitamin complexes and products combining methylfolate with other cofactors. It is important to note that MethylPro uses Quatrefolic® or (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, glucosamine salt from Gnosis Bio in its 10mg products, and Extrafolate-S® or (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, calcium amorphous salt from Gnosis Bio in its 15mg products.

• Type of Methylfolate: L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate(Extrafolate-S®) and Quatrefolic® (6S)-5-MTHF MethyltetrahydrofolateGlucosamine Salt.

Now Foods is a low-cost supplement brand with over 1400 products. It caters to a broad range of health conditions rather than focusing solely on methylation-related health.

Now Foods methylfolate products are made with Quatrefolic® (6S)-5-MTHF Methyltetrahydrofolate, Glucosamine Salt. As mentioned earlier, the crystal form C of 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium salt has better stability than 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt¹¹. Keep in mind that glucosamine salt must be taken at a higher dose because this form is heavier than calcium.

• Type of Methylfolate: Quatrefolic®(6S)-5-MTHF Methyltetrahydrofolate, Glucosamine Salt.

Thorne is a well-established supplement brand with a wide selection of products. Thorne uses third-party certified manufacturing facilities and claims that many of their supplements have been used in clinical trials, although their website doesn’t specify which publications or studies.

All Thorne products are free of gluten and artificial fillers, dyes, and additives. However, products are more expensive than most other brands.

Thorne 5-MTHF 1mg is made with Gnosis S.p.A.'s L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (Extrafolate-S®) with 1700 mcg DFE (dietary folate equivalent). It’s important to note that an amorphous salt form is much less stable than a crystalline salt form¹², and and tends to lose its potency over time. 

• Type of Methylfolate: L-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate(Extrafolate-S®).

Life Extension is another long-running US brand with a vast range of supplements. Their products have been ranked highly, and they can provide a Certificate of Analysis for every product.

Life Extension’s High Potency Optimized Folate contains (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate, calcium salt] 8500 mcg with 1700 mcg of folate DFE. Their folate range includes Homocysteine Resist, which combines vitamins B2, B6, B12, and folate as L-5-MTHF, and BioActive Folate & Vitamin B12. 

• Type of Methylfolate: (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate,calcium salt (Extrafolate-S®)

Doctor's Best is a low-cost nutritional supplement company that was founded in 1990 by a group of physicians. Its range includes over 200 products manufactured in cGMP-certified facilities. As with Now Foods, Doctor’s Best caters to a wide range of health conditions rather than methylfolate alone.

Doctor’s Best Fully Active Folate 400 and Folate 800 both contain Quatrefolic®. Doctor's Best Fully Active B Complex is also made with Quatrefolic®.

• Type of Methylfolate: 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolateglucosamine salt

When comparing supplement brands, nutritional information is usually the best indicator of quality. Check the entire list of ingredients in their products, particularly the form of each ingredient and any excipients.

Also note their accompanying certifications. The bare minimum for FDA compliance are products that conform to cGMP standards. Choosing a product that has been NSF certified ensures that the supplements you buy are held to an even higher standard.

The best methylfolate brands are those that use high-quality, bioactive ingredients and have been third-party tested for efficacy and purity. Their formulas should be designed in a way that ensures optimal absorption and utilization in the body without any risk of toxicity.

While there are dozens of supplement brands claiming to support various health conditions, Methyl-Life® stands out as one of the few brands dedicated to quality. Every product has been scientifically formulated and made with 100% bioactive ingredients, and all supplements are completely free from fillers and additives. Moreimportantly, every methylfolate product in the Methyl-Life® range contains Magnafolate® PRO, which has been clinically tested for its exceptional purity and effectiveness.