5-methytetrahydrofolate--the 4th Generation Folate. Exclusively available for compounding at MAPRx
The mechanism of action of Quatrefolic® is related to the action of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate the active part of the proprietary ingredient.
5-methyltetrahydrofolate derives from tetrahydrofolic acid, through a series of metabolic reactions. Tetrahydrofolic acid acts as a coenzyme in several vital metabolic reactions participating in the transfer as acceptors and donors of various one-carbon fragments, involved in the biosynthesis of nucleotides purines and pyrimidines and in the metabolism of several important amino acids.
In concert with vitamin B12, folate coenzymes allow the conversion of the amino acid homocysteine to methionine, the lack of this conversion has been associated with various pathologies and diseases.
Conversion of tetrahydrofolic acid to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is mediated by the action of the enzyme methylentetrahydrofolate reductase. In individuals with a genetic defect of methylentetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme conversion is limited, predisposing these individuals for an increased risk for certain disease conditions.
Supplementation with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate might be preferable to folic acid, being it is immediately available to react with homocysteine to avoid the possibility of hyperhomocysteineamia.
APPLICATIONS
Humans need to maintain an adequate dietary intake of folate during various stages of their lives.
Folate plays an essential role in cell division and DNA synthesis and is involved in human growth and development. Folate deficiency has far-reaching negative health consequences at all stages of life and has been implicated in the etiology of a variety of disorders including but not limited to neural tube defects (NTDs), anemia, various forms of cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis, all which have become pervasive health issues around the world in the 20th century.