Humans need to maintain an adequate dietary intake of folate during various stages of their lives. Relevant clinical researches emphasize the importance of folate supplementation in different therapeutic areas such as neural-tube defect, male and femalea infertility, spontaneous abortion, coronary heart disease, macrocytic anemia, methotrexate therapy.

Folate deficiency is related to the reduction of a cell's capacity to synthesize and repair DNA. Eating folate-rich foods may not provide the recommended daily dosage; thus the need for supplementation.

In February 2008, Gnosis patented the new generation of folate derivative, brand named Quatrefolic^®, endowed with a long lasting stability and a peculiarly high water solubility as well as an improved bioavailability and an established safety. Quatrefolic^® is the glucosamine salt of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate and is structurally analogous to the reduced and nutritionally active form of folic acid, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate.

The goal for Gnosis' R&D was to develop an innovative folate salt form able to overcome the existing calcium salt form limitations related to stability and poor solubility.

Until now folate deficiency has been characterized by supplementation of folates (first generation), through folic acid (second generation) up to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium salt (third generation), the only folic acid derivative availale on the market able to penetrate the body cells without further metabolism.

From now on, Gnosis makes available for market Quatrefolic^®, the fourth generation folate hitting the target of the most bioavailable methylated reduced folate.

Quatrefolic^® can claim key relevant benefits allowing the product to be suitable for dietary supplements as well as food and beverage uses, specifically for combinations of different vitamins and minerals.

For more information please visit www.quatrefolic.com