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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Methylfolate vs Raspberry Leaf: Methylfolate has the stronger overall evidence (6 vs 4/10); they're alternatives for fertility support — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Methylfolate wins 3 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Likely helps
6 of 6 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
Verdict
Mostly mechanism / observational
1 of 2 studies with measurable effects showed benefit.
Top outcomes
400-800mcg daily
Morning with or without food, Consistent daily timing
L-Methylfolate (5-MTHF)
1-2g dried leaf as tea, 2-3 times daily
Between meals as tea, Divided throughout the day
Dried leaf tea
2-4 weeks
1-3 weeks
4-8 weeks
Days to weeks
2-3 cycles
Efficacy of B-vitamins and vitamin D therapy in improving depressive and anxiety disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Nutritional neuroscience (2023) · Systematic review · n=2256
20 RCTs with 2,256 subjects with depression or anxiety, covering several B vitamins and vitamin D, not methylfolate alone.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of L-Methylfolate Augmentation in Depressive Disorders
Pharmacopsychiatry (2022) · Meta analysis · n=6707
Nine articles (N=6,707 patients) were assessed qualitatively. The pooled analyses were smaller: three studies (N=483) and four studies (N=507).
Folic acid/methylfolate for the treatment of psychopathology in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Psychopharmacology (2018) · Meta analysis · n=925
Ten RCTs with 925 patients were reviewed, of which two tested methylfolate (n = 96). Seven RCTs entered the meta-analysis.
Raspberry Leaves and Extracts-Molecular Mechanism of Action and Its Effectiveness on Human Cervical Ripening and the Induction of Labor
Nutrients (2023) · Review
The majority of women apply raspberry leaves during pregnancy to induce and ease labor.
A Review on Berry Seeds-A Special Emphasis on Their Chemical Content and Health-Promoting Properties
Nutrients (2023) · Review
A different part of the plant: berry seeds, not the leaf. Raspberry leaf is dosed as 1-2g dried leaf as tea for uterine and menstrual use, and this paper reviews the chemical content of berry seeds. Read it as species-level context, not as leaf evidence.
Phenolic Composition, Mineral Content, and Beneficial Bioactivities of Leaf Extracts from Black Currant (Ribes nigrum L.), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa)
Nutrients (2020) · Review
Narrative review of the phenolic compounds and minerals in leaves of black currant, raspberry and aronia, not raspberry alone.
Two randomised trials in people whose depression had not responded to an SSRI (PMID 23212058). In the first (148 patients), L-methylfolate at 7.5 mg a day for 30 days, then 15 mg, did no better than placebo. In the second (75 patients), 15 mg a day throughout beat placebo on response and symptom scores, with side effects no different from placebo. A meta-analysis found benefit only for methylfolate at 15 mg once daily added to an SSRI, with all evidence rated low or very low quality (PMID 29442609). The 800 mcg point comes from an open-label, non-randomised trial of 44 patients where adding methylfolate to an antidepressant improved PHQ-9 scores more by day 28 (40% vs 26%), but remission did not differ (PMID 39844190). No trial compared doses head to head, so no minimum or optimal dose is set.
Both points come from one phase II RCT in 198 adults with knee osteoarthritis (PMID 35799169), which gave 200 mg or 400 mg of leaf extract daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint, WOMAC pain, did not differ from placebo at either dose. Walking pain on a VAS fell more than placebo at 400 mg only, so 200 mg is plotted as no effect. Doses above 400 mg were not tested, and a single trial cannot establish an optimal dose or a safety ceiling.
AI-estimated from published studies. Interpret as directional guidance.
Methylfolate has a higher evidence score (6/10 vs 4/10) and wins in 3 of 3 categories.
For fertility support, Methylfolate has a higher relevance score (95 vs 5).
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.