The active form of folic acid, or vitamin B9, is a form of folic acid known as levomefolic acid or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF).

You should pay attention to and eliminate artificial forms of folic acid in the form of pteroylmonoglutamic acid from supplementation. If the form (active or methylated) is not indicated on the packaging of the drug or supplement, the composition contains an artificial form of folic acid. An artificial form of folic acid is also added to processed foods, which is why it is so important to analyze labels and ingredients before consumption.

Better absorption

The form of folic acid is particularly important for its absorption and bioavailability. Both synthetic and natural folic acid are substrates for chemical synthesis, but their structures differ. The synthetic acid must be converted to 5-MTHF using complex enzymatic reactions. It is estimated that the methylation process does not occur properly in over 50% of the population, therefore the correct use of artificial folic acid is very difficult and often results in the appearance of the so-called unmetabolized folic acid, which is not beneficial, especially in pregnant women, and may lead to fetal disorders.

Active folic acid, 5-MTHF, is a reduced form with much greater bioavailability.

Health support

Folic acid is crucial for the production of red blood cells, the proper functioning of the nervous system and DNA synthesis. Active folate supports these processes more effectively.

Health of pregnant women

Folic acid supplementation is necessary for women planning and being pregnant because it reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus. Active folic acid ensures safe supplementation of this key ingredient.

Brain support

Folate is important for cognitive function and mental health. Research suggests that adequate levels of folic acid may support brain health.

Let’s definitely avoid the SYNTHETIC form of folic acid in supplementation!

Quatrefolic® is glucosamine salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, i.e. the active form of 5-MTHF folic acid.

Methylfolate is structurally analogous to the reduced and active form of folic acid, so it bypasses the conversion step that must undergo folic acid contained in food and synthetic folic acid (pteroylmonoglutamic acid).

Methylation is a biochemical process that involves the transfer of a methyl group (-CH3) between molecules. After attaching a methyl group, the functionality of the molecule changes.

Methylation disorder is often diagnosed in the form of a mutation in one of the methylation genes, the MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) gene, the prevalence of which is estimated at 50% of the entire population.

Methylation will affect substances whose transformation is supervised by methyltransferases – a special group of enzymes whose names have a characteristic MT ending, e.g. COMT, GAMT, PEMT. But not only that. For example, the methylation process regarding vitamin B9, the so-called folic acid is produced thanks to the MTHFR enzyme, i.e. methyl(M)-tetra(T)-hydro(H)-folate(F) reductase. Substances with a methyl group can transfer it further as part of biochemical transformations, e.g. choline or betaine, 5-MTHF (B9), methylcobalamin (B12) are donors of methyl groups.

Methylation has a multi-faceted impact on the human body and is indirectly related to a whole range of processes. Methylation is closely related to, among other things, liver detox, energy production, health of the circulatory and hematopoietic systems, the condition and quality of the nervous system, our mood and ability to deal with emotions, the balance of the functioning of the digestive tract, including digestive functions, activation of vitamins, renal metabolism.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21941617/