Comparative Study between the Use of Regular Folic Acid Supplement versus the Use of L-Methyl Folate in Patients with Methyl Tetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene Mutation with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Abstract

Background: Methylfolate is the active metabolite of folate that is important for DNA repair, synthetized under the effect of MTHFR (methyl-tetrahydro-folatereductase) enzyme. Patients with MTHFR gene mutation have low levels of biologically active methyfolate. Those patients have high homocysteine levels causing vasculopathy and inadequate feto-maternal circulation. Aim of the Work: To predict the potential benefit of use of methylfolate instead of use of the regular folic acid in patients with MTHFR gene mutation with history of RPL (recurrent pregnancy loss). Subjects and Methods: Study was performed on 100 women. All women had experienced at least two consecutive miscarriages first trimester abortion. All patients were positive of having MTHFR gene mutation. Patients were divided into two groups in terms of 1st trimester drug intake. The 1st group recieved a regular folic acid supplement in a dose of 5 mg per day starting from the day of positive pregnancy test till the end of the first trimester. The 2nd group recieved L-methylfolate supplement in a dose of 1000 mcg per day starting from the day of positive pregnancy test till the end of the first trimester. Then both groups were compared in terms of abortion rates, pregnancy continuation rates and the development of other major obstetric complications. Results: Patients in 1st group had no associated pregnancy related complications in 56%, PE in 14%, PROM in 18% and PTL in 12% of cases. On the other hand, patients in 2nd group had no associated pregnancy related complications in 78%, PE in 6%, PROM in 8% and PTL in 8% of cases 54% of patients on folate group ended in abortion, while only 16% of patients on methylfolate group had abortion. 24% of patients on folate group had PTL, compared to 8% of patient who had had PTL in methylfolate group. 22% of patients in the 1st group continued pregnancy to full term, while 60% of 2nd group continued pregnancy to full term. Conclusion and Recommendations: The use of methyl-folate supplement during the first trimester of in patients with history of RPL and positive MTHFR gene mutation should be a routine practice instead of the regular folate supplement as it improves pregnancy continuation rates and decreases occurrence of associated pregnancy co-morbidities as preterm labor and preeclampsia.