HY-FOLIC, a supplement produced by PT. Simex Pharmaceutical Indonesia, has been proven to be twice as bioavailable as folic acid in a new study published in the International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics.
The finished product, which contains Gnosis by Lesaffre's nutraceutical Quatrefolic, demonstrated a favourable pharmacokinetic profile after one single dose.
HY-FOLIC delivers the EFSA-approved molecule (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolic Acid, Glucosamine Salt.
This finding showcases the potential of Quatrefolic in raising vitamin B9 levels in users.
The superior profile of HY-FOLIC
Folic acid is a crucial nutrient in the body, as it plays a key role in red blood cell formation, as well as DNA and RNA synthesis. The vitamin has also been implicated in cell growth, and its supplementation is highly recommended for pregnant women.
The current recommendation for pregant women is folic acid, though many women express a MTHFR polymorphism, which reduces their capacity to convert folic acid into its active form.
Therefore, Gnosis by Lesaffre set out to overcome this challenge by creating a folate supplement that bypasses the metabolic conversion steps requiring the MTHFR and DHFR enzymes.
To test how this ingredient performs in a finished product, researchers at the Department of Pharmacology of Universitas Indonesia measured the pharmakokinetic profile of the supplement by assessing its absorbency in 12 healthy participants compared with standard folic acid.
After receiving 1100 mcg Quatrefolic, there was a washout period of 14 days for all participants — after which they were given 600 mcg folic acid.
Notably, HY-FOLIC was found to be two-fold more bioavailable than folic acid, as it encouraged a significantly higher peak plasma concentration. This means that the body can access and utilise folate twice as effectively.
Researchers also confirmed that Quatrefolic does in fact bypass the metabolic conversion steps requiring the DHFR and MTHFR enzymes, proving the benefits of the ingredient in those with these gene polymorphisms — which is estimated to be around 40% of the population.
After taking HY-FOLIC, there was also a reduction in unmetabolised folic acid in the bloodstream, which can be detrimental if levels are too high — highlighting how Quatrefolic could improve the safety profile of a supplement when compared to folic acid inclusion.
Clinical importance
As folate is involved in so many cellular processes, it is crucial that populations vulnerable to vitamin B9 deficiency have access to a highly bioavailable and safe solution.
This study highlights HY-FOLIC as an effective supplement for groups with higher folate demands, such as pregnant women, individuals with folate deficiencies/inadequacies, or those undergoing methotrexate therapy, where optimal folate availability is crucial.
“We have espoused the need for the standard of care to change,” says Jean Francois Jeanne, Substantiation and Application Manager at Gnosis by Lesaffre.
“We contend that clinically-validated Quatrefolic offers substantial advantages over folic acid, but also for a wider population. This study provides another strong element to that argument.”
Quatrefolic has been proven to benefit users in several contexts, including women's health, cardiovascular wellness, fertility and overall folate metabolism.