Folate for pregnant women, 800µg, 60 vegan tablets

• For pregnant women
• No unnecessary additives
• Vegan
• Gluten Free
• Lactose Free
• Soy Free
• GMO Free

*NRV: daily reference intake for adults. Reference intake value for an average adult (8400kJ / 2000 kcal)

Ingredients: bulking agent: microcrystalline cellulose, glucosamine salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid Quatrefolic®.

Recommended daily dose: 1 tablet a day, during a meal. Do not exceed recommended daily dose.

The product is dedicated to pregnant women. Use in pregnant women after consulting a doctor.

The product cannot be used as a substitute for a varied diet.
It is recommended to use a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Package content: 60 VEGE tablets

Storage conditions: Store at room temperature, out of reach of small children. Protect against moisture. 

EFFECT OF FOLATES:

• contribute to the growth of maternal tissues during pregnancy
• reduce the risk of developing neural tube defects in the developing fetus
• help in proper blood production,
• help in maintaining proper homocysteine ​​metabolism
• help in maintaining normal psychological functions,
• contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue,
• help in proper the functioning of the immune system,
• they participate in the process of cell division,
• they help in the proper synthesis of amino acids

PrenaCare FOLATE by ALINESS is a rich source of highly bioavailable folate in the patented Quaterfolic®. 

The term "folic acid" includes all forms of folates. If the word "folate" sounds to you like "leaves" in English, it is no coincidence. The words share common roots (the Latin word folium, meaning "leaf"), which helps remind us that green plant foods can be one of the richest sources of folate.

Folate is prone to oxidation, loses activity rapidly in food, and is largely destroyed by cooking, up to 90%.

Synthetic folic

Folic acid taken from food must be metabolized to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) for full metabolic effectiveness

Most folate intake comes from the synthetic version of folic acid in supplements and added to food. Today, we know that folic acid undergoes complex metabolism and that there are differences among populations in the ability to efficiently metabolize folic acid to its bioactive form (1,2).

Folate in food is hydrolysed to monoglutamate in the intestine before being absorbed by active transport across the intestinal mucosa. Therefore, before entering the bloodstream, the monoglutamate form is reduced to tetrahydrofolate (THF) and converted to the methyl forms. 

On the other hand, folic acid is first reduced to dihydrofolate by the enzyme dehydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and then to tetrahydrofolate. In humans, the gut appears to have a very high capacity to convert reduced dietary folate to 5-MTHF, but a limited ability to reduce folic acid. In fact, it reaches the liver unmetabolized.

Quatrefolic®, a highly bioavailable form of folate, may be the best choice when it comes to active folate supplementation to support and regulate the methylation cycle. (7.8).

Quaterfolic® - SOURCE OF BIOAVAILABLE FOLIC ACID, IN THE FORM OF ACTIVE FOLATE

Quatrefolic® passes through the gastric barrier and is absorbed mainly in the small intestine by the carrier mechanism. 

The biotransformation of folic acid to 5-MTHF in the liver is regulated by two polymorphic enzymes, DHFR and MTHFR. DHFR enzyme activity appears to be low and highly variable. Chronic exposure of the liver to folic acid may cause saturation with this component, which may result in the systemic circulation of unmetabolized folic acid. In addition, some people have genetic changes that lower DHFR activity.
A new study published in 2014 clearly indicated that 86% of the folic acid in the hepatic portal vein is not metabolized, with almost all of the natural folate being converted properly.(3),(4).

Quaterfolic® - BIOAVAILABILITY Oral

bioavailability of an active ingredient is highly dependent on its solubility. Absorption of the compound occurs after dispersion and dissolution in the intestinal fluid.

What does solubility mean?

High solubility in water means that Quatrefolic® can be better absorbed by mucosal cells, which facilitate access to blood and circulation.

The high solubility in water means that Quatrefolic® can be easily absorbed by mucosal cells that facilitate access to the blood and circulation, with the potential to improve the bioavailability of this chemical form of folate.

The exceptionally high solubility of Quatrefolic® in water is due to two specific characteristics of the ingredient: the glucosamine-forming agent and the amorphous chemical structure of the product

Quaterfolic® - STABILITY

Quatrefolic® exhibits an extraordinary, long-term chemical stability, guaranteeing completely unchanged purity even after several months, and a reduction from analysis in 18 months of less than 1%, which allows for easy handling and storage. The pH value of Quatrefolic after reconstitution is neutral. This value also provides higher stability to the molecule, protecting it from hydrolytic degradation.

Medicaline deliberately chose to conduct Quatrefolic® stability studies under the strictest guidelines specifically required for pharmaceutical ingredients, guaranteeing independent and reliable criteria in order to make a long-term chemical stability statement before promoting the product to its customers.

The lyophilized ingredient can be used without particular and restrictive conditions, easily combined with other ingredients and excipients, and can be stored at room temperature instead of 2-8°C like other folate derivatives.

RECOMMENDED INTAKE

Due to the fact that Quatrefolic® contains a metabolically reduced form of folate, used and stored in the human body, it is completely bioavailable.

The recommended dose for pregnant women is 800 μg of pure folate. Based on: Nutrition standards for the Polish population - amendment edited by prof. dr hab. med. Mirosława Jarosz, Institute of Food and Nutrition 2012.

Quaterfolic® - Impact on health and performance

In 2014, the European Commission approved the use of Quatrefolic® in the European Union as a New Food Ingredient. In 2015, Annex II to Directive 2002/46/EC was officially amended - Quatrefolic® was included, which can be used in the production of dietary supplements sold in the European Community.

Evaluated by the European Food Agency (EFSA) and approved by the European Commission, the effect of folates on our health is described in the Annex to Commission Regulation No. 432/2012 of 16 May 2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims on foods, other than claims relating to to reduce the risk of disease and the development and health of children. According to this Regulation, folates:

• help in the proper production of blood
• help in maintaining the proper metabolism of homocysteine
• ​​help in maintaining proper psychological functions
• contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
• help in the proper functioning of the immune system
• take part in the cell division process
• help in the proper synthesis of amino acids
• contribute toto maternal tissue growth during pregnancy

Folate supplementation is recommended during pregnancy and lactation, for infants and small children, as well as the elderly.

PREGNANCY/LACTATION

Increased demand for folate (800 μgof pure folate) occurs during very active cell growth, such as during pregnancy and lactation.

Quatrefolic® as a source of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) can be particularly useful in the supply of the nutritionally active form of folate in the period before conception, during pregnancy and lactation.

The folate concentrations in breast milk are maintained at the expense of its reserves in the mother's body.

A lactating woman needs 128μgof extra folate per day to supplement her consumption. 5-MTHF has been shown to be effective and perhaps more effective than folic acid in preserving erythrocyte folate levels during lactation. 

Infants and children:

Folate is a critical nutrient when cell growth in the body is very active. It helps in the proper functioning of the immune system.

Adults:

Folate is involved in the production of key neurotransmitters in the brain, helping to maintain normal psychological functions.

Folate is a cofactor in many important biological reactions, and its deficiency can occur at all stages of life. Folate supplementation can improve the quality of life by reducing the feeling of tiredness and fatigue

Elderly people:

Folate deficiency occurs in about 30% of the elderly population.

Folate supplementation is important in the elderly because homocysteine ​​levels in the blood rise with age and its metabolism depends on folate.

As part of the aging process, numerous physical and physiological changes occur.

Aging is associated with changes in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which may possibly affect the absorption of various forms of folate. Folate supplementation with high bioavailability, especially in this age group, helps to support proper psychological functions such as concentration, memory and learning.

References:

1.  Smith D. A. i in. Is folic acid good for everyone? Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 
   
2.  Bailey SW, Ayling JE. The extremely slow and variable activity of dihydrofolate reductase in human liver and its
   implications for high folic acid intake. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
   America. 2009
   
3. Pietrzik K i in. Folic acid and L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate: comparison of clinical pharmacokinetics and
   pharmacodynamics. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2010 
   
4. Patanwala I i in. Folic acid handling by the human gut: implications for food fortification and supplementation.
   Am J Clin Nutr. 2014
   
5. van der Put NMJ i in. A Second Common Mutation in the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene: An
   Additional Risk Factor for Neural-Tube Defects? Am. J. Hum. Genet. 1998
   
6. Meshkin B, Blum K. Folate nutrigenomics: a convergence fo dietary folate metabolism, folic acid
   supplementation, and folate antago- nist pharmacogenetics. Drug Metab Lett. 2007
   
7. Bailey LB i in. Folate metabolism and requirements. J Nutr. 1999
   
8. Scott JM, Weir DG. Folic acid, homocysteine and one carbon metabolism: a review of the essential biochemistry. J Cardiovasc Risk. 1998