Folate & Pregnancy, new issue on implications of MTHFR polymorphism

Folate status in pregnancy is a critical factor in proper fetal development. Since humans cannot synthesize folate and pregnant women do not consume adequate quantities of it through their diet, folate supplementation is required to prevent NTDs (neural tube defects) and is established by several Health Authorities (i.e. FDA, EFSA).

Folic acid is not biologically active and needs to be converted into the metabolically active 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) through a multi-step process where the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) owns a key role. Some individuals, due to their unique genetic patterns and expression, have polymorphic forms of this enzyme and do not produce adequate or effective MTHFR.

Quatrefolic^® is the structural analog to the reduced and active form of folate so it completely bypasses the “damaged” MTHFR conversion step and delivers a “finished” folate the body can immediately use without any kind of metabolization.