A new clinical study has revealed that Balchem’s choline-enriched L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-5-MTHF) folate ingredient, Optifolin+, showed 2.6 times greater bioavailability and was absorbed 3.5 times faster than standard folic acid in healthy adults.
The study, published in Food & Nutrition Research, highlights several key benefits that give manufacturers a clear advantage when developing innovative, bioavailable and effective solutions, optimised to support cellular health at every stage of life.
Superior bioavailability, faster
The randomised, double-blind, controlled crossover study aimed to evaluate the relative bioavailability of Optifolin+ versus standard folic acid, comparing their pharmacokinetic profiles during 24 hours in healthy men and women.
Researchers found that plasma concentrations of L-5-MTHF, the bioactive form of folate, were significantly higher following Optifolin+ intake compared to those after folic acid.
This superior absorption was seen in both healthy men and women.
Optifolin+ also increased folate status (as 5-MTHF) by more than 240% compared to folic acid and reached maximum plasma levels of L-5-MTHF in under an hour compared to 2.8 hours with folic acid.
Additionally, Optifolin+ did not increase blood levels of unmetabolised folic acid (UMFA), unlike folic acid.
This is an important finding, as UMFA has no known biological function and high levels of UMFA have been linked to health risks.
Delivering bioactive folate that the body can use
Also known as vitamin B9, folate is an essential nutrient that supports fundamental cellular functions and the production of key molecules such as DNA and RNA, amino acids, neurotransmitters and hormones.
Well established for its benefits in prenatal nutrition, the vitamin’s role in providing methyl groups for DNA methylation, homocysteine metabolism and other crucial reactions in the body means that folate as L-5-MTHF also plays a key role in the support of brain health and cognitive function, cardiovascular health and epigenetic health.
Currently, many supplements and fortified foods and beverages rely on folic acid as a source of folate.
However, folic acid is a synthetic form of vitamin B9, which must undergo several enzymatic conversion steps within the body to become the biologically active form, L-5-MTHF.
This process is inefficient for a large proportion of consumers who carry variations in the MTHFR gene.
This can reduce the activity of the enzymes responsible for the final conversion of folic acid into L-5-MTHF.
For these individuals, traditional folic acid supplementation may not provide optimal folate status.
Plus, with excessive intake of folic acid, the enzymatic metabolism also risks becoming overwhelmed, leading to UMFA build-up in the bloodstream.
Folic acid vs folate
“Optifolin+ is the bioactive, choline-enriched L-5-MTHF form of folate, meaning it bypasses the metabolic bottlenecks and genetic hurdles that folic acid faces entirely,” comments Eric Ciappio, Senior Manager, Nutrition Science, Balchem HNH.
“These new study findings demonstrate how leveraging the bioactive form translates to real bioavailability advantages for consumers."
"Optifolin+ also goes a step further, providing seven times the methyl groups found in standard folate forms for methylation support, as well as excellent solubility and stability for ease of formulation."
"We are thrilled to see these benefits in action as part of our ongoing commitment to opening up innovation opportunities with this crucial vitamin.”
“Another exciting element of this trial is the broad demographics of participants," adds Lauren Eisen, Senior Marketing & Business Development Manager, Minerals and Nutrients at Balchem.
“While many studies have previously focused on women, due to the prominence of folate in prenatal nutrition, this new study expanded the scope to include healthy men and women across a wide age range and saw significant benefits."
"Now, with clinically-backed superior bioavailability in this wider population, as well as a seven-times methyl group advantage, Optifolin+ offers a powerful tool for supplement brands to create next-generation solutions to support health at all stages of life."