Researchers emphasize that women and infants are disproportionately affected.
Gnosis by Lesaffre is eager to highlight a new commentary published in The Lancet Global Health [1] asserting that folate inadequacy is widespread throughout the globe. It impacts more than half the world’s population (more than 4 billion people), with many women and their offspring lacking adequate folate levels.
The authors of the commentary entitled “Addressing global micronutrient inadequacies: enhancing global data representation”[1] also state that the results of the previously published global nutrition study [2]“emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions to address these gaps, particularly in regions with high inadequacy rates.”
Why is Folate Important?
Folate, vitamin B9, is essential for women of reproductive age as it plays a vital role in DNA synthesis, cell division, and the proper neurological development of the fetus. Folate is critical for the approximate 140 million women who give birth each year – and their newborns – and up to 8% of pregnancies have complications.
Further, women with impaired maternal and fetal homocysteine metabolism, along with low levels of active folate in the bloodstream, are associated with significant complications, such as fetal neural tube defects, pre-eclampsia and placental abruption, and recurrent pregnancy loss.
However, folic acid is the current recommendation for those seeking to become pregnant. Yet, many women express an MTHFR polymorphism, which inhibits and reduces the conversion of folic acid into its active form, 5-MTHF; this potentially affects folate bioavailability. Unlike folic acid, active folate (Quatrefolic®) doesn’t require conversion in the body, making it more effective, particularly for those with this genetic mutation.
Quatrefolic® from Gnosis is a well-studied active folate, with research substantiating and quantifying its benefits in several health contexts for women’s health, including overall folate metabolism [3,4], cardiovascular health [5], and fertility [6].
Supporting Folate Findings
New research presented at the 2024 FASEB (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) B Vitamins and One-Carbon Metabolism conference highlighted the risks of folate deficiency in overweight or obese women, linking it to metabolic and cognitive challenges for mother and child. Adequate folate intake and glycemic control were emphasized to reduce birth defects and adverse outcomes. Spanish researchers* further showed that low early-pregnancy folate or B12 levels were associated with reduced cognitive performance in children, with folate being the stronger predictor. These findings underscore the importance of tailored nutritional strategies for maternal and child health.”
“The high number of people – especially women – living with folate inadequacy is both surprising and somewhat disheartening, considering how many countries have implemented folate fortification programs,” said Jean Francois Jeanne, Manager of the Gnosis Substantiation Team. “At the same time, this substantiates the need for products containing adequate folate amounts, in its active form 5-MTHF, to ensure improved intake across all populations.
Silvia Pisoni, Gnosis Global Operational Marketing Manager, added, “We take very seriously the need to ensure the active folate we put into the market — our Quatrefolic— is of the highest quality and safety. Correcting this dangerous inadequacy is indeed possible with the collaborations with our partners across the globe.”
*Based on the Abstract from FASEB: B Vitamins and One-Carbon Metabolism August 11—16, 2024
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