What is Quatrefolate? Why is the best form of folic acid for pregnancy?

Vitamin B9, often known as folate or folic acid, is an essential nutrient for human beings. Over the years, research has proved that folate is essential to human health, and not just during pregnancy, as is commonly believed.

Folate supplementation has been advocated for many different health conditions by experts from the medical and scientific professions. These include cardiovascular health, mood improvement, moderate cognitive deficits, and many more1.

Quatrefolic Vs Folic Acid2,3:

Quatrefolic is structurally similar to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the reduced and physiologically effective form of folate (5-MTHF). The multi-step conversion process and metabolic abnormalities common to folic acid and dietary folate, such as the MTHFR polymorphism, do not impair the bioavailability of quatrefolic (methylentetrahydrofolate reductase).

In reality, some people's unique genetic makeup and expression cause them to have a polymorphism form of this enzyme, meaning they don't make enough of the active form to properly regulate their folate levels. The homocysteine level in the blood could rise as a result of these changes in the genes.

In fact, 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt, or Quatrefolic:

Folate in plasma is needed, and this is true regardless of the source of the folate in the diet. This folate form is readily absorbed even when stomach acid levels are low. Form of folate that makes it into peripheral tissues for metabolic utilisation. types of folate that can diffuse across the blood-brain barrier (blood-brain barrier) When taken as directed, the benefits of Quatrefolic, a nutritional form of folic acid and folate, are universally applicable whenever supplemental folic acid and folate are permitted or suggested.

Role of Quatrefolic in Pregnancy2,4,5:

Proper foetal development relies on adequate folate levels, which aid in cell division and proliferation and DNA repair and protect against birth abnormalities. To sustain embryonic and foetal growth, as well as maternal tissue regeneration, folate needs rise by a factor of five to ten during pregnancy.

Preterm delivery, low birth weight, neural tube disorders like spina bifida, and developmental congenital anomalies like cleft palate and lip are all reduced by folic acid use. These abnormalities occur in the first trimester of pregnancy when the neural tube does not close correctly, hindering the brain and spinal cord from developing normally.

Supplements and fortified meals often contain folic acid, the inactive precursor of active folate. Quatrefolic contains folic acid as a component, but for it to be biologically active, the body must go through a series of transformations to convert it into active folate, also known as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF).

Even today, in United states and Europe, fifty percent of pregnancies are unplanned, exposing these women to a grave risk, as malformations of the spine and brain (Neural Tube Defects) develop during the first 28 days of pregnancy — before many women are even aware they are pregnant. Clinical data suggests that 5-methyltetrahydrofolate supplementation is superior than folic acid supplementation in boosting folate biomarkers in young women during early pregnancy, hence reducing their risk of neural tube defects.

  1. Quatrefolic 5-MTHF is the Best Solution for Folate Deficiency. Methyl-Life® Supplements Learn more.
  2. nutraingredients-usa.com. Quatrefolic, the active form of folate that guarantees 100% of folate supplements’ benefits. nutraingredients-usa.com Learn more (2021).
  3. Quatrefolic® Vs Folic Acid. Remecure Learn more (2021).
  4. Quatrefolic: the right folate for healthy pregnancy. Learn more.
  5. Servy, E. J., Jacquesson-Fournols, L., Cohen, M. & Menezo, Y. J. R. MTHFR isoform carriers. 5-MTHF (5-methyl tetrahydrofolate) vs folic acid: a key to pregnancy outcome: a case series. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 1431–1435 (2018).