Folate metabolism in the rat was investigated using radiolabelled 5-methyltetrahydropteroylglutamate (5-CH3-H4PteGlu) and its oxidation products. 5-CH3-H4PteGlu is absorbed completely from the intestine, although in some preparations it is an equimolecular mixture of C-6 epimers, only one of which is naturally present in biological systems. The methyl group is incorporated into non-folate compounds, including methionine and creatine. No evidence was observed for the oxidation of the methyl group of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu to form other folate types. The tetrahydrofolate moiety of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu is metabolized in a similar manner to folic acid, forming formyl folates and tissue polyglutamates, and is catabolized by scission. The triazine oxidation product of 5-CH3-H4PteGlu is not metabolized by the rat or its gut microflora. 5-Methyl-5,6-dihydropteroylglutamate, however, is assimilated into the folate pool, but is substantially broken down by passage through the gut. The possible implication of this in scorbutic diets is discussed.
