Accumulation of plasma reduced folates after folic acid administration

Semin Oncol. 1999 Apr;26(2 Suppl 6):38-41.

Abstract

The pharmacokinetics of folic acid, and resultant metabolites thereof, have been determined after administration orally and intravenously at 25 mg/m2 and 125 mg/m2. Saturation behavior was observed for uptake of folic acid into plasma and with regard to metabolism to methylenetetrahydrofolate and tetrahydrofolate as well as methyltetrahydrofolate. Repetitive oral administration every 6 hours resulted in consistently elevated levels of each metabolite pool with the same general saturation behavior as observed with single dose administration. This repetitive oral administration is concluded to be a suitable means to provide uniform elevation of metabolites that could offer protection from undesirable toxic effects of drugs such as MTA.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / adverse effects*
  • Folic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Folic Acid / blood*
  • Folic Acid / metabolism
  • Folic Acid / pharmacokinetics*
  • Folic Acid Antagonists / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Folic Acid Antagonists
  • Folic Acid