Not verified
“1,000 mcg active folate is needed for MTHFR carriers”
Standard 400–800 mcg doses of active folate normalize folate status in MTHFR carriers (PMID 19298256); routine 1,000 mcg intake is not established as necessary.
Reviewed
Verified by SAC team
+20
XP on completion
Best High-Dose Active Folate
NOW Foods
NOW Foods Methyl Folate 1,000 mcg Review
5.9/10SAC Product Score™
NOW's methyl folate delivers 1,000 mcg (1,667 mcg DFE) of L-5-MTHF at a friendly price for a high-dose active folate. For someone specifically directed to a higher active-folate intake who also wants value, it makes sense. But it stacks two of our downgrades at once: a dose well above the 400–800 mcg prenatal target, and the active form's absence of NTD-prevention trials. It is well-made value within its niche, but that niche is narrow. Most women need neither 1 mg nor methylfolate, and this product offers both.
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Read the complete Folate guide →How we built the SAC Product Score™ — 5.9/10
NTD-Prevention Evidence30%4.5/10
Methylfolate lacks NTD-prevention trials; a high dose does not create evidence that isn't there.
Form & Bioavailability20%8.5/10
Bioidentical L-5-MTHF, conversion-free and well-absorbed.
Dose Appropriateness20%5/10
1,000 mcg is well above the 400–800 mcg target — more than most women need without a specific reason.
Third-Party Testing20%6/10
GMP Quality Assured and non-GMO, but self-attested rather than independently verified.
Value10%6.5/10
About $14 for 90 tablets — good value for a 1 mg methylfolate, if you actually need 1 mg.
The product at a glance
- Form
- L-5-MTHF tablet
- Dose
- 1,000 mcg (1,667 mcg DFE) L-5-MTHF
- Count
- 90 tablets
- Testing / Certification
- Non-GMO, Vegetarian, Kosher, GMP Quality Assured
- Cost per dose
- ~$0.16 per tablet
Marketing claims vs. reality
Not verified
“High-dose methylfolate improves pregnancy outcomes”
No randomized trial demonstrates that 1 mg methylfolate prevents more NTDs or improves outcomes over the standard folic acid dose.
What our test actually found
01Two downgrades in one product
It is both above the target dose and in the unproven-for-NTD form. Either alone is a caveat; together they place it near the bottom despite fair pricing.
02Good value only if you need this specific product
For the narrow group directed to high-dose active folate, the price is attractive. For everyone else, cheaper and evidence-proven options exist.
Pros & cons, no sugar-coating
Pros
- Bioidentical L-5-MTHF, no conversion required
- Good value for a 1 mg active-folate dose
- Vegetarian, non-GMO and kosher
- Convenient tablet format
- 90-count bottle for a three-month supply
Cons
- 1,000 mcg exceeds the 400–800 mcg prenatal target
- Active form lacks NTD-prevention evidence, and testing is self-attested
Niche high-dose value, not a general pick
This is a fine, affordable high-dose methylfolate for the narrow case where someone genuinely needs 1 mg of active folate. But it combines an above-target dose with a form that has no NTD-prevention data, so it ranks near the bottom. Most women should choose a 400 mcg folic acid tablet instead.
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Sources & further reading
- Prinz-Langenohl R, Brämswig S, Tobolski O, et al. [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate increases plasma folate more effectively than folic acid in women with the 677C→T MTHFR polymorphism. Br J Pharmacol. 2009;158(8):2014-21.Prinz-Langenohl R, Brämswig S, Tobolski O, et al. · 2009 · British Journal of Pharmacology · PMID 19917061
[6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate increases plasma folate more effectively than folic acid in women with the 677C→T MTHFR polymorphism
Standard doses of 5-MTHF normalized plasma folate in MTHFR carriers; high doses not required.
- MRC Vitamin Study Research Group. Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study. Lancet. 1991;338(8760):131-7.MRC Vitamin Study Research Group · 1991 · Lancet · PMID 1677062
Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study
Folic acid — not methylfolate — was the form proven to prevent neural-tube defects.