- Quatrefolic® patented form of folic acid.
- A methylated, bioactive form of folic acid
- Recommended for pregnant women and those planning pregnancy
- Promotes normal nervous system function
- Prevents cardiovascular incidents
- Promotes regulation of homocysteine levels
- Adds energy, combats fatigue and tiredness
- Reduces the risk of fetal malformations
- Ideal for people with MTHFR gene mutation
- Regulates the cycle of methylation processes
- Very high bioavailability
Swanson Folate is a dietary supplement that includes Quatrefolic®, a patented, methylated form of folic acid with the highest possible bioavailability and biological activity. Each capsule provides as much as 400 mcg of bioavailable folic acid and, in most cases, one hundred percent covers the daily requirement for this compound.
Folate are a group of chemical compounds with a similar structure and similar properties. They include 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), the naturally occurring, biologically active form of vitamin B9. Plant products - green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, beets, avocados, asparagus - are particularly rich in folate.
Folate is essential for proper functioning. They take part in the synthesis of amino acids, nucleic acids and neurotransmitters; they affect gene expression. They also control the process that enables the conversion of homocysteine to methionine and determine the regularity of organogenesis.
Why 5-MTHF and not regular folic acid?
Folic acid, also known as pteroylglutamic acid, is a chemical compound that has a pteridine base, p-aminobenzoic acid and glutamic acid in its structure. Such a compound is very rarely found in food, and is most often lab-made and commonly used in supplementation as a synthetic form of vitamin B9.
In order for the body to utilize folic acid for bodily needs, it must be converted to the active form 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). This process occurs mainly in the liver, and is slow and quite complicated. It is estimated that one in four people suffer from metabolic and genetic disorders (such as MTHFR gene polymorphisms) that prevent the efficient metabolism of folic acid. As a result, it is deposited in the body, and processes requiring folate do not proceed properly.
Providing the body with folic acid in the methylated, active form of 5-MTHF solves the problem of its conversion in the body and allows it to be used effectively for the body's needs.
Proper fetal development
Folic acid is commonly associated with the supplementation of pregnant women, although specialists point out that any deficiency should be compensated for even before pregnancy, at the stage of planning the offspring. This compound determines the normal development of the fetus and prevents developmental defects. Intense cell division, which is characteristic of the processes of organogenesis, causes the demand for folate to increase dramatically. Particularly important is the moment when the fetal neural tube is formed, because it is from it that the baby's brain and spinal cord develop. The coil closes about four weeks after conception - often this is the moment when a woman realizes she is pregnant. Neural tube defects most often mean permanent disability or premature death. They can be prevented by, among other things, maintaining proper folate levels. In addition, they can reduce the risk of premature birth.
Promoting normal cardiovascular function
An adequate supply of folate is essential for cardiovascular health. A huge role is played here by the utilization of homocysteine in the folic acid-dependent methylation process. This compound provides the methylene group for the enzyme that is responsible for the methylation of homocysteine. The consequence of folic acid deficiency is excess homocysteine in the blood, which most often results in the development of atherosclerosis. With hyperhomocysteinemia, arterial tissues are most often damaged, platelet aggregation to the endothelium of blood vessels intensifies and the tendency for platelets to clump together increases. All this increases the risk of cardiovascular incidents.
Hematopoietic activity
The normal course of nucleic acid metabolism and the process of red blood cell formation depends on the availability of folic acid. Insufficient amounts of this compound make erythrocytes pathologically enlarged, live shorter and cannot perform their proper functions. This is often accompanied by thrombocytopenia and a decrease in the number of leukocytes. In extreme cases, it can even be enough to develop a dangerous disease called megaloblastic anemia.
Well-being and mental performance
Folate is extremely important for proper brain development and function. Scientists have shown that their deficiency correlates with degeneration of the cerebral cortex in regions that are responsible for memory and learning. This is likely the result of increased levels of homocysteine, which is toxic to neurons. Studies have shown that even short-term supplementation with a bioactive form of folic acid in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment translated into better IQ test scores and had a beneficial effect on short-term memory.
Folate can also be seen as a natural antidepressant. They are involved in the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine, which largely shape positive mood, and disturbances in their release usually lead to the development of depression and anxiety disorders.
In conclusion, Swanson Folate is one of the most effective ways to supplement folate deficiencies. Supplementation is indicated especially for pregnant women and those planning to have offspring. It will also be helpful for people with methylation disorders and hyperhomocysteinemia.
