What Is Folate?

Folate, also known as vitamin B9 or folic acid, is a water-soluble essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in many physiological processes in the body, such as healthy cell growth, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell formation.

Folate is an essential nutrient during pregnancy as it may help congenital disabilities in the developing fetus. It can be found naturally in leafy green vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fortified grains.  

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What Is Folate? What Role Does Folate Play in Human Health?

Vitamin B is a group of essential water-soluble nutrients required for many body processes, including energy production and cell metabolism. Vitamin B9, known as folate, is essential for maintaining healthy cell growth, DNA, and red blood cell formation.    

Recent studies show the benefits of using reduced folate over folic acid. This approach, in particular the use of reduced and methylated folate such as Quatrefolic®, is particularly advantageous due to the inability of some people to assimilate and metabolise folic acid from food or supplements.  

Quatrefolic® provides the reduced metabolic form of folate (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, which the human body utilises and stores without any processing.  

Unlike folic acid, Quatrefolic® does not contribute to the potential accumulation of UMFA in the blood, which has no biological function and whose effects are not yet fully known. This is particularly significant because of the potential uncontrolled intake of folic acid through diet.  

Finally, the high solubility of Quatrefolic® ensures better bioavailability than other folate salts, setting it apart from the competition. 

Our informative report on Quatrefolic® and the new research topics of folate application specifically addresses the advantages of Quatrefolic® versus folic acid and its powerful role in human health at all stages of life. 

 

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OUR FOLATE RANGE

Why Is Folate so Important?

Folate is essential for normal, healthy growth and development. It plays an essential role in cell growth and division, synthesizes DNA, RNA, and proteins, and is required for critical enzymatic reactions, among other functions.  

Some of the symptoms of folate deficiency include anemia, cardiovascular diseases, hyperhomocysteinemia, depression, cognitive dysfunction, and cognitive decline. 

Folate’s interaction with other nutrients is crucial. Folate and vitamin B12 are essential for forming and maturing red and white blood cells. They are cofactors in several metabolic steps involving one-carbon metabolism and methylation processes.

Folate is, of course, a very important vitamin for everyone; however, this vitamin does have great implications for women.  

Low folate during pregnancy has been linked to neural tube defects. Neural tube defects are a class of developmental disorders that include spinal bifida (a condition where the spinal cord does not form correctly) and anencephaly (a condition where parts of the brain and skull do not develop). 

Folate supplementation is recommended for pregnant women, those trying to become pregnant, and those breastfeeding.

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How Does Folate Work?

Folate metabolism is a multistep process that converts inactive folic acid into the active form of folate that our body uses, called 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). 

Specific enzymes control each step. Some people have a specific genetic trait (MTHFR polymorphism), which means they produce an unstable MTHFR enzyme with reduced activity.  

The most severe MTHFR deficiency is associated with two primary mutations: MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C. Individuals carrying these mutations have an impaired ability to convert folic acid into 5-MTHF.  

An MTHFR polymorphism represents a potential risk factor for numerous health conditions, such as compromised cardiovascular health, pregnancy complications, infertility, and impaired mood.

While folic acid must first be converted into 5-MTHF, Quatrefolic® is the biologically active form of folate that bypasses the impaired MTHFR conversion step and can better guarantee health benefits to everyone.  

5-MTHF is the primary form of folate essential for normal healthy growth and development. It is involved in one-carbon metabolism, methylation, amino acid metabolism, DNA repair, and other cellular functions. 

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Is Folate The Same as Folic Acid?

Folate and folic acid are terms used interchangeably to refer to vitamin B9, a group of water-soluble B vitamins known for their importance in many physiological processes in the body. However, there are differences between the two forms.  

Folate is a natural vitamin B9 found in foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, fruits, and legumes. On the other hand, folic acid is a synthetic form and is commonly used in dietary supplements and food fortification. 

Although the terms folate and folic acid are often used interchangeably, there are differences between the two forms that affect their human health benefits.  

Quatrefolic® is the glucosamine salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate and is structurally analogous to the reduced and active form of folic acid. Developed by Gnosis By Lesaffre, it represents the fourth-generation folate compared to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium salt, guaranteeing an improved bioavailability. 

It is a natural compound endogenously formed throughout the human body by cellular glucose metabolism and found in almost all human tissues.

HEALTHY HINTS: BASICS OF FOLATE

  • FOLATE IS A WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMIN B9.

     

  • FOLATE IS NATURALLY PRESENT IN SOME FOODS AND AVAILABLE AS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT.

  • FOLATE IS ESSENTIAL IN CELL DIVISION AND DNA SYNTHESIS AND IS INVOLVED IN IMPORTANT CELLULAR FUNCTIONS (I.E., METABOLISM, METHYLATION)

 

  • FOLATE PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING ONE-CARBON METABOLISM. 
  • ACTIVE FOLATE IS CRUCIAL FOR HUMAN HEALTH IN THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE.

     

  • FOLATE IS RECOMMENDED DURING PRECONCEPTION, PREGNANCY, AND LACTATION.

     

  • ACTIVE FOLATE NORMALIZES THE FOLATE STATUS OF ALL POTENTIAL SUBJECTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH MTHFR POLYMORPHISM.

     

  • 5-METHYLTETRAHYDROFOLATE DOES NOT LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL ACCUMULATION OF UMFA IN THE BLOOD. 

Folate Benefits​

Adequate folate intake is essential to many body functions. The European Commission confirmed the scientific substantiation of health claims for folate and the following claimed effects: blood formation, homocysteine metabolism, energy metabolism, immune system functions, blood vessel functions, cell division, and maternal tissue growth during pregnancy. 

Folate deficiency has far-reaching negative health consequences at all stages of life. It has been implicated in the etiology of a variety of disorders, including anemia, various forms of compromised heart and bone health, and cognitive impairments,  all of which have become pervasive health issues around the world in the 20th century.

 

Infant & Children

Folate is essential for cell tissue growth and DNA synthesis and repair—all processes little bodies are very busy with throughout childhood. Folate also supports the development of the brain, digestive, nervous, and immune systems. 

Kids need folate to make red blood cells, which reduces the risk of a shortage of red blood cells (anemia). Because red blood cells move oxygen and energy around the body, your child could struggle with low energy or shortness of breath. 

Women

Women can benefit from the right intake of certain nutrients, particularly folates, at specific stages of their lives. The fertile age runs from puberty to menopause.  

Folate level and homocysteine status are critical factors in the early stages of human reproduction. 

Sufficient folate intake is particularly important during pregnancy because its deficiency increases the risk of congenital irregularities. 

When a woman reaches menopause, folate supplementation helps reduce and alleviate the symptoms associated with this phase of life. 

Older People

Low folate levels can be linked to an increased risk of chronic conditions, including hyperhomocysteinemia, cognitive decline, vascular issues, and immunity problems.  

Older adults may be more susceptible to such health issues due to changes in their physiological processes.  

Supplementation with active folate can help replenish folate levels and mitigate these age-related risks. It is vital to prioritize active folate intake to promote healthy aging and reduce the risk of chronic health issues. 

HOW CAN FOLATE BE OBTAINED?

Folate is naturally found in many foods, including dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Foods folates are unstable and susceptible to oxidation, and they lose activity during food processing, manufacturing, and storage. 

Humans cannot produce folate, meaning we must get it from our diet. Folate is also sold as a dietary supplement. Meanwhile, folic acid, the synthetic form of the vitamin that is the inactive precursor to biologically active folate, is used to fortify foods. 

Quatrefolic® is an innovative dietary ingredient. It is the glucosamine salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate with higher bioavailability and improved water solubility. 

Folate in Food

Folate is naturally present in: 
Beef liver, vegetables (especially asparagus, brussels sprouts, and dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and mustard greens), fruits and fruit juices (especially oranges and orange juice), nuts, beans, and peas (such as peanuts, black-eyed peas, and kidney beans). 

Relying solely on dietary sources of folate may not always be sufficient. A diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables is a primary cause of folate deficiency.

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