Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: FOLIC ACID versus FOLVITE.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: FOLIC ACID versus FOLVITE.
FOLIC ACID vs FOLVITE
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a water-soluble B vitamin. It is reduced to dihydrofolate (DHF) and then to tetrahydrofolate (THF) via dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). THF serves as a cofactor for one-carbon transfer reactions essential for purine and thymidine synthesis (DNA replication), amino acid metabolism (e.g., homocysteine remethylation to methionine), and other methylation reactions.
Folate is reduced to tetrahydrofolate (THF) which acts as a cofactor for single-carbon transfer reactions in nucleic acid and amino acid synthesis.
Oral or intramuscular/subcutaneous injection: 400-800 mcg daily for general supplementation; 1-5 mg daily for folate deficiency; 5-15 mg daily for megaloblastic anemia.
1 mg orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or intravenously once daily for folic acid deficiency; for pregnant and lactating women: 0.4-0.8 mg orally once daily.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateFolic acid + Teriflunomide
"The serum concentration of Teriflunomide can be increased when it is combined with Folic acid."
Clinical Note
moderateTiaprofenic acid + Folic acid
"The therapeutic efficacy of Folic acid can be decreased when used in combination with Tiaprofenic acid."
Clinical Note
moderateCarprofen + Folic acid
"The therapeutic efficacy of Folic acid can be decreased when used in combination with Carprofen."
Clinical Note
moderateCyproterone acetate + Folic acid
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 0.7 hours (range 0.5-1.0 h) for folic acid; the active metabolite (5-MTHF) has a longer half-life of about 3-4 hours.
Terminal elimination half-life of folic acid is approximately 0.7 hours; for the active metabolite 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, half-life is 3–4 hours in plasma (tissue stores have a much longer turnover).
Primarily renal (urinary) as intact folic acid and metabolites, accounting for 80-90% of the excreted dose; fecal elimination via bile is minor (<10%).
Primarily excreted unchanged in urine (hepatic metabolism minimal); after oral doses, fecal excretion occurs via unabsorbed drug and biliary secretion of folate metabolites accounts for a minor route.
Category A/B
Category C
Vitamin
Vitamin
"The serum concentration of Folic acid can be decreased when it is combined with Cyproterone acetate."