Folic acid isn’t for everybody, but folate is. Folic acid must be converted into folate before it can be absorbed and utilised.
But 40% of the global population has a genetic polymorphism that prevents full absorption, making active folate the superior and more useful form of vitamin B9.
Folate has been shown to have multiple health benefits for a wide range of people (infants, pregnant women and the elderly) and consumers are now making the switch from folic acid.
However, folate can be finicky in some formulations, especially when in aggressive environments.
Problem: abrasive conditions
When the term “harsh conditions” is mentioned, most immediately think of stomach acids that degrade more delicate nutraceuticals.
However, another set of conditions that can accelerate degradation are environmental — excessive humidity and high temperatures — which can occur during transport as well as storage.
Solution: an advanced folate
A next-generation folate (Quatrefolic® PRO) has been shown to withstand exposure to high environmental temperatures with no impact on stability.
After 90 days at 53 °C, the folate exhibited minimal purity loss (<8%). Another stress test demonstrated good resistance to elevated humidity: with time, the folate’s loss on drying (LOD) values increased significantly with no corresponding decrease in purity or assay.
This cutting-edge folate retains its quality and performance during production in extreme environments and complex formulas.
Other advantages
Folate ingredients can vary in quality, making production a guessing game.
Gnosis has developed its next-generation folate with advanced characteristics that enable formulators to meet the demands of discerning consumers seeking more adventure in their wellness routines.
Gnosis’s new folate provides four key advantages.
Consistency in dosage: One of the primary challenges in supplement production is ensuring that each unit contains a precise amount of the active ingredient.
By eliminating variability in powder density, the new folate ensures both uniformity and that each product contains the right amount of active folate.
Optimal formulation flexibility: A powder with good flowability and compressibility is easier to handle. The superior flowability of next-gen folate enables smoother tablet compression, easier capsule filling and a more streamlined manufacturing process.
This flexibility makes it ideal for brands looking to create more innovative and diverse supplement formats — whether traditional tablets or more complex multiphase products.
Enhanced quality control: By minimising fluctuations in bulk density and particle size, the new folate helps to ensure the final product performs optimally.
Improved handling properties: By optimising the tapped density and compaction processes, Gnosis’s new folate to reduces waste during tablet pressing and capsule filling.
This results in a more efficient use of materials, lower production costs and enhanced sustainability, all while ensuring high final product quality.
Last but not least, ensuring outstanding bioavailability is essential.
The oral bioavailability of an active ingredient depends on its solubility; the new folate is classified as “very soluble” according to European and US Pharmacopoeia guidelines, supporting rapid dissolution in various formulations.
Conclusion
Gnosis’s Quatrefolic® PRO provides formulation flexibility and precise dosing, making it suitable for stable, multi-ingredient blends.
With this new option, brands can fulfil imminent demand for folate products in a range of appealing blends and dosage forms.
