Quatrefolic^® represents an innovative dietary ingredient designed to act as a nutrient in all areas where folic acid and folate supplementation has been recommended and allowed.

The terms folic acid and folate are often used interchangeably for the water-soluble B-complex vitamin, essential for the maintenance of cellular functions and health.

Folate deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies and eating folate-rich foods may not provide the recommended daily dosage; thus the need for supplementation.

Quatrefolic^® is the glucosamine salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate and is structurally analogous to the reduced and active form of folic acid.

Quatrefolic^® represents the fourth generation folate endowed with long lasting stability as well as a peculiarly high water solubility, improved bioavailability and well established safety.

Quatrefolic^® is the glucosamine salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate and is structurally analogous to the reduced and active form of folic acid so Quatrefolic^® completely bypasses the “damaged” MTHFR conversion step and delivers a “finished” folate the body can immediately use without any kind of metabolization.

The mechanism of action of Quatrefolic^® is related to the action of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate the active part of the proprietary ingredient.

5-methyltetrahydrofolate derives from tetrahydrofolic acid, through a series of metabolic reactions. Tetrahydrofolic acid acts as a coenzyme in several vital metabolic reactions participating in the transfer as acceptors and donors of various one-carbon fragments, involved in the biosynthesis of nucleotides purines and pyrimidines and in the metabolism of several important amino acids.

In concert with vitamin B12, folate coenzymes allow the conversion of the amino acid homocysteine into methionine. The lack of this conversion has been associated with various pathologies and diseases.

Conversion of tetrahydrofolic acid into 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is mediated by the action of the enzyme methylentetrahydrofolate reductase. In individuals with a genetic defect of the methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) this enzyme conversion is limited, consequently it will predispose these individuals to an increased risk for certain disease conditions.

Supplementation with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is preferable to the one with folic acid, as it is immediately bioavailable to react with homocysteine to avoid the possibility to incur in hyperhomocysteinemia.