The 10-year period around menopause, five years prior to and five years following menopause, is known as the “climacteric” stage. Menopause increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Menopause is not accompanied by immediate changes in blood pressure(BP), but increases in blood pressure generally occur 5–10 years after menopause.  A placebo-controlled study reported that also in healthy postmenopausal women, the prolonged administration of the active form of folate, 5-MTHF, in high doses (15 mg) reduces nocturnal BP, and increases the percentage of dipping individuals. Beside the effect on BP, the reduction of oxidative status induced by folate may have additional benefits mediated by a reduction in risk factors for atherosclerosis progression. An increased oxidative stress occurs in conjunction with subclinical inflammation, diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome. A double-blind placebo-controlled study show a clear reduction of oxidative stress during 5-MTHF administration and a strong correlation between this decrease and the nocturnal decline of BP.  Whether maintained in the long term, 5-MTHF's cardiovascular and metabolic effect may contribute to primary cardiovascular prevention of postmenopausal women.