We explored the impact of two forms of folate—methyltetrahydrofolate (methylTHF) and folic acid—on liver health in a specific mouse model that presented genetic variations affecting folate metabolism. Through our study, we compared mice with different MTHFR genotypes and assessed how these supplements influenced conditions like hepatic steatosis, which is essentially fat buildup in the liver.
Mice were divided into groups and fed diets that either contained regular food, supplemented with methylTHF, or enriched with folic acid for four months. Following this period, we examined the livers of these mice for signs of liver disease and checked important metabolites related to one-carbon metabolism, which is crucial for numerous bodily functions.
The results were quite revealing. Both forms of folate showed limited effectiveness against liver fat accumulation in the mice with the 677TT genotype. In fact, while methylTHF supplementation did not significantly alter plasma homocysteine levels or liver fat in either gender, folic acid supplementation seemed to have negative consequences for the liver of female mice with the 677CC genotype.
Overall, our findings indicate that folate treatment, whether via methylTHF or folic acid, did not provide substantial benefits for mice predisposed to liver disease due to their genetic makeup. Further investigation would be necessary to see if these findings apply to humans.