Deplin - anyone heard of it?

[Kobayashi]

Deplin? (L-methylfolate) | Official Site

Is it available in Canada? From what I understand it is not an antidepressant, but a "super vitamin" or "medical food" used as an adjunct. (L-methylfolate), by prescription only.

Been reading lots about it in many other forums. Many have seen great success with it, where front line antidepressants have failed. It's no magic bullet, but many people claim it gave them much relief. Also seen a few links where people going thru benzo w/d use it, also helps... List goes on... PTSD, OCD, mdd, bp etc etc.

Anyone????

 

[David Baxter PhD]

This is basically folic acid. I'm not aware of any research demonstrating that it is effective in the treatment of depression. Rather, it is used in the treatment of anemia, or to prevent anemia in pregnant women.

l-methylfolate medical facts from Drugs.com

l-methylfolate is used in the following situations:

• in people who have high levels of a certain amino acid in their blood, a condition called hyperhomocysteinemia (HYE-per-HOE-moe-sis-tin-EE-mee-a). This condition can be related to folate deficiency or may be caused by receiving methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
  
• in women with high-risk pregnancies who need additional folate in their diets to prevent hyperhomocysteinemia; or
• in people with certain types of anemia (a lack of red blood cells) that may be complicated by a folate deficiency.

The Deplin brand of l-methylfolate is used in the following situations:

• in people with major depressive disorder who have folate deficiency. Deplin is used together with anti-depressant medications in people with major depressive disorder and low folate levels.
• in people with schizophrenia who have hyperhomocysteinemia related to folate deficiency.

Deplin is not an antidepressant. However, it may enhance the effects of antidepressant medications.

L-Methylfolate Tablets Facts and Comparisons at Drugs.com

[h=2]L-Methylfolate is used for:[/h]
Dietary management of low plasma or low red blood cell folate in certain patients. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.


L-Methylfolate is a medical food. It works by providing the body with folate.

 

[Daniel E.]

Yes, I have heard of it. To reiterate what Dr. Baxter is saying:

Maybe the larger question is why you were prescribed L-methyfolate in the first place. Certainly, if you have a folate deficiency, more folate will help. Outside of that, there is no solid evidence that more folate will definitely help in most cases, regardless of what other meds one is taking for a synergistic effect.

http://forum.psychlinks.ca/alternat...ment-antidepressant-treatment.html#post189983

From a dietary point of view, there is normally no need for folate supplementation since it is abundant in Canadian and US diets, even in unhealthy diets with a lot of processed foods.

 

[Kobayashi]

Agreed.

What is interesting is that I have looked at the "reviews" on this supplement on multiple web sites. Varying results, none negative in terms if side effects, mostly very positive however when used as an adjunct with an AD in treatment resistant depression etc..

The website for Deplin (likely biased) gives an interesting overview on the difference between their "by prescription only supplement" and synthetic, or natural folate.

In essence their product crosses the blood-brain barrier.

To quote the literature:

" It has been shown that as many as 70% of people with depression have a genetic error called the MTHFR polymorphism that limits their body?s ability to reduce dietary folate or folic acid into L-methylfolate."

Bunk or science? I have no idea. I'd love to see the literature on that...if it even exists...

I am still interested to know if it is available in Canada. I asked my Pharmacist about it and she's never heard of it. Could it be under a different brand name up here in the Great White North?

See: Deplin? (L-methylfolate) | What is L-methylfolate?

 

[David Baxter PhD]

If it sounds too good to be true, most of the time it is. And when a company trying to sell you something quotes unnamed "research" wioth vague phrases like "It has been shown that as many as 70% of people with depression have a genetic error", be very wary.

First, the science of the genetics of mental disorders is not yet very precise at all - lots of suggestive research but nothing conclusive or definitive.

Second, what exactly does "as much as 70%" mean? Could it also be as little as 1%? or 0%?

 

[Budoaiki]

Based on some quick research the only benefit I could find is that it (L-methylfolate) has been used to increase the effectiveness of SSRI's in some cases.

Although chemically speaking a folic acid supplement could have the same effect which isn't fully proven as of yet because only approx 10% of the population has difficulty assimilating the amino acids from folic acid from what I could find. And of course as Dr.Baxter mentioned as a dietary supplement during pregnancy.

 

[Daniel E.]

Also:

Researchers wonder whether poor nutrient intake leads to depression or whether depression leads people to eat a poor diet.

Diet for Depression | Foods that Help Depression

But for many years now, they fortify even junk food like Oreos with folate.

 

[DavidR11]

Im familiar with Deplin and will attempt to answer how Deplin, which is a high dose of L-methylfolate, may work. Anything over 1mg of L-methylfolate has to be in a prescription form which may clarify why it is hard to find. Deplin actually has emperical studies that demonstrate efficacy over placebo. Folic acid does not cross the blood brain barrier, only the converted form L-methylfolate. L-methylfolate is required for BH4, BH4 is required for Tryptophan and Tyrosine. More Tryptophan and Tyrosine are needed for the three neurotransmitters. More neurotransmitters may mean addressing depression, hence the SNRIs and SSRIs with "re-uptake". As much as 70% of depressed patients may be folate deficient, requiring adequate folate. Hope this helps!

 

[Daniel E.]

Folic acid does not cross the blood brain barrier, only the converted form L-methylfolate

Of course, the body does that conversion to "L-meth" already.

 

[Kobayashi]

Of course, the body does that conversion to "L-meth" already.

Yes - the body SHOULD do this naturally. But I think the idea here is that there is SOME evidence, albeit sketchy that certain people have trouble making the conversion due to some genetic mutation. At least that's the way I read it. I did some follow up and apparently there is a test to see if the mutation is there.

Also - if anyone is interested, I think you can buy it in 10mg form OTC (which is slightly higher than the Deplin). Here is the link:

Metabolic Maintenance, 5-MTHF (L-Methylfolate), 10 mg, 90 Capsules - iHerb.com