A supplement called Hy-folic, which features Gnosis by Lesaffre’s Quatrefolic ingredient, was evidenced to be substantially more bioavailable than a standard folic acid product in a new study published in the International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics. Hy-folic is a finished product produced by PT. Simex Pharmaceutical Indonesia.

The randomized, open-label, crossover study found that Quatrefolic was two-fold more biovavailable than folic acid, according to peak plasma concentration Cmax and AUCt measurements.

Unlike folic acid, the “activated” Quatrefolic ingredient is able to bypass metabolic conversion in the body which requires DHFR and MTHFR enzymes. This makes it particularly beneficial for individuals with genetic polymorphisms that impair folic acid metabolism, representing about 40% of the world population, according to Gnosis.

Hy-Folic supplementation was also linked to lower levels of unmetabolized folic acid than the standard product – when folic acid is not fully metabolized, it can accumulate in the bloodstream.

These findings highlight the importance of this specialized form of folate for individuals with high folate demands, including pregnant women, people with folate deficiencies or inadequacies, or those undergoing methotrexate therapy, according to the company.

Folate, or vitamin B9, is essential for women of reproductive age as it plays a vital role in DNA synthesis, cell division, and neurological development of a fetus. However, many women express an MTHFR polymorphism that inhibits and reduces conversion of folic acid into 5-MTHF, its active form. Quatrefolic acid doesn’t require this enzymatic conversion in the body.

“We have espoused the need for the standard of care to change,” said 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.”

He noted that Quatrefolic has been evidenced to improve certain metrics of overall folate metabolism, cardiovascular health, and fertility.