What form of folic acid does Pregnancy Essentials contain?Updated 10 months ago

Pregnancy Essentials multivitamin for pregnant and lactating women contains a patented bioactive form of folate, Quatrefolic®, bound to the glucosamine salt as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine. This is structurally identical to the reduced and active form of folate found directly in our bodies. Folate bound to the glucosamine salt increases its stability in the gastrointestinal environment and thus its absorption. Compared to the calcium salt of folic acid (L-methylfolate of folic acid), the Quatrefolic® form provides higher stability and better absorption.

Folate in the patented Quatrefolic® form is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine without the need for further conversion in the liver or other tissues.

The glucosamine salt also improves the stability of folate during digestion, increasing its bioavailability and reducing the risk of degradation during digestion. This ensures maximum absorption efficiency.

Why folate supplementation is essential:

The need for folate increases when human cells are actively growing, for example during pregnancy. Folate deficiency is a prevention for neutral tube defects and improper development of the fetus or placenta.

Supplementation of folic acid in methylated form is most important especially before pregnancy and in the first three months of pregnancy. This is mainly for the following reasons.

• Prevention of birth defects: folic acid plays a key role in the prevention of birth defects, especially neural tube defects. This neural tube, which forms the basis for the later central nervous system, begins to develop very early after conception, usually within the first 3-4 weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she is pregnant. Therefore, it is important that the body's folate stores are sufficient before conception.

• Development of the nervous system and brain: The first trimester is a critical period for the formation of the fetal nervous system and brain. Sufficient folic acid helps proper development, which has a long-term effect on the health of the baby.

• Rapid cell division and growth: folic acid is also essential for the formation of DNA and RNA

In the second and third trimesters, folic acid is still important for supporting fetal growth and development, but its importance is not as critical as in the first weeks. Therefore, it is crucial to have adequate levels of folic acid before pregnancy and especially during the first trimester.