Metafolin, a patented form of folate from Merck Eprova AG, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, has been approved by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) as a safe alternative to folic acid for use in dietary supplements, foods for special dietary uses and other foods. Metafolin (the calcium salt of L-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid or L-methylfolate for short) belongs to the group of folate vitamins (vitamin B9, folacin), which the human body must obtain from dietary sources.