Folate - Nôgel

WHY IS FOLATE IMPORTANT?

Folate, i.e. vitamin B9 is a water-soluble vitamin, which we mainly get from liver dishes, different beans and other legumes, green vegetables, certain berries and also from green herbs. Western diet is poor in folate, because it includes insufficient amount of legumes and green vegetables. Folate contributes to normal amino acid synthesis (amino acids are the building block for proteins), normal blood formation, normal homocysteine metabolism (in case of insufficient folate level, the content of homocysteine increases in our blood).

Homocysteine is a certain amino acid that does not have a physiological role in our bodies. Its higher level is related to increased risk of heart and vascular and certain other diseases; normal physiological function and folate has also an important role in cell division.

FOLATE VS FOLIC ACID

The absorption of folate from food, bioactive folate and synthetic folic acid is very different. Bioactive folate is already in the form that our body can absorb well. The absorption of folate from food and synthetic folic acid is much weaker due to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme, activity. Scientific research brings out the importance of liver as the potential place for changing synthetic folic acid to bioactive folate. However, the capability of liver to change folic acid to 5-MTHF is not very good due to low and very variable dihydrofolate reductase enzyme. Due to this unmetabolized folic acid is produced, which gradually accumulates in the body. For some people (not rare at all) the changing process of folate from food and synthetic folic acid to bioactive folate is limited and weaker due to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme activity, which is determined by our genes.

Folate Quatrefolic®

We use bioactive patented folate Quatrefolic® – the fourth generation folate that guarantees the best absorption. Bioactive folate is already in the final form that our body can easily absorb.

Folate and pregnancy

Folate, i.e. vitamin B9, is a very important vitamin for women planning pregnancy and already pregnant. Folate supplementation increases pregnant woman´s folate level. Mother´s low folate level is a risk factor for neural tube defects for the developing baby. A beneficial effect is obtained with daily folate supplementation of 400 μg at least one month before and up to 3 months after getting pregnant.

Charity

Charity is one of the most important values for Nôgel. For every product purchased we donate 5 cents to Tartu University Hospital Children´s Foundation.