Folaat 5-MTHF 400 mcg by Vitals

Folic acid and active folate

Folic acid, also called vitamin B11 in the Netherlands and vitamin B9 in Germany and the United States, occurs in food as different forms of folate.

The most biologically active form is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, or 5-MTHF. This is the natural form that circulates in the blood.

Folic acid is the name of the synthetic compound pteroylmonoglutamic acid. Most folic acid supplements use this compound as their folate source.

Why the form matters

Pteroylmonoglutamic acid is the most oxidized form of folate. It is absent or almost absent in food.

In a relatively large group of people, conversion into biologically active 5-MTHF works less efficiently. As a result, supplementation may be less effective.

This may also lead to an unwanted buildup of unmetabolized folic acid. For this reason, Vitals uses only Quatrefolic®, which consists of 5-MTHF bound to a glucosamine salt.

Development of Quatrefolic®

In the past, it was difficult to use active folate in supplements because of its instability.

The Italian developer Gnosis succeeded in stabilizing this folate form by binding it to a glucosamine salt from a plant source.

This led to Quatrefolic®, also called the fourth generation of folate because of its higher bioavailability than three earlier folic acid or folate sources.

These earlier sources are folate from food, synthetic folic acid, and 5-MTHF bound to a calcium salt.

Absorption and availability

5-MTHF bound to a calcium salt dissolves much less well in water than 5-MTHF bound to a glucosamine salt.

As a result, Quatrefolic® can be absorbed more easily by cells in the intestinal wall. This helps explain its higher bioavailability.

Functions of folate

Folate contributes to normal cell division. In this way, it is involved in the formation of cells and tissues, including red and white blood cells.

By supporting normal blood formation, folate may help reduce tiredness. It also contributes to the normal function of the immune system.

In homocysteine metabolism, 5-MTHF acts as a methyl donor to convert homocysteine into methionine. Vitamins B6 and B12 are also involved in this process.

A sufficient folate intake therefore supports normal homocysteine metabolism.

Brain and nervous system

Methionine is used mainly for the production of S-adenosylmethionine, or SAMe. SAMe acts as a methyl donor in the production of DNA, RNA, phospholipids, proteins, and neurotransmitters.

Folate also supports normal brain and nervous system function. It therefore contributes to concentration, memory, and mood.

During pregnancy

Folate is especially important for women who want to conceive or who are already pregnant.

It contributes to tissue growth during pregnancy. It also supports placental development and the normal growth of the unborn child.

It may take several weeks before the level of active folate in the blood becomes sufficient.

For this reason, it is necessary and wise to start supplementation at least four weeks before conception and continue until at least eight weeks after conception.

Supplement use

Using extra folate throughout pregnancy is also possible. Pregnant women should preferably use a pregnancy multivitamin that contains folate as well as other important nutrients, such as Elke Dag Mama.

Need advice?

Would you like to know more about this product or receive personalized advice from our orthomolecular therapist, Liesbeth?

Then please use our consultation form

Our consultations are free of charge.

Patented ingredients

Quatrefolic® is a patented product and a registered trademark of Gnosis.

Other information

Dietary supplement Vitamin supplement

Distributor Vitals Voedingssupplementen BV
Pieter Lieftinckweg 29
1505 HX Zaandam

Last page change
21 maart 2026