Active Folate Benefits vs Folic Acid: Reasons Quatrefolic is the Better Choice
- Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 found in food. Folic acid is the man-made version added to fortified foods and most everyday supplements.
- Active folate is commonly linked to red blood cell production, healthy pregnancy tissue growth, mood balance, brain function and healthy homocysteine levels.
- Quatrefolic allows the body to absorb and use active folate straight away
More South Africans are reading supplement labels closely these days, and one question that needs to be answered is: What active folate benefits actually are, since almost every brand of vitamin B9 looks a little different. Folic acid has been the preferred choice for pregnancy health, but folate and folic acid are not quite the same thing, and recent research may indicate that the active form of this vitamin might be easier for the body to absorb.
What Is the Difference Between Folic Acid and Folate, and What Are the Active Folate Benefits?
Before getting into the active folate benefits, it’s important to understand folic acid and folate. Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9. You will find it in dark leafy greens like spinach, legumes, nuts, broccoli, asparagus, citrus fruits, and beef liver. Folic acid is a synthetic stand-in found in fortified foods like bread, pastas, and cereals, and most standard supplements.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, folic acid and active folate are quite different. Folic acid cannot be used by the body in its original state. Before it becomes biologically active, it must undergo several conversion processes to produce folate, the form the body can readily use. This conversion is important because active folate plays a vital role in DNA production and repair, while also supporting the formation of healthy red blood cells that are essential to overall health.
Folate in food is chemically unstable as it’s easily affected by environmental factors, such as heat and cooking, and oxygen and light. So, choosing a supplement that contains active folate, such as Quatrefolic, allows the body to use the nutrient straight away without needing to convert it first. This makes it a highly bioavailable option ready for your body to absorb and use.
Is it Possible to Get Adequate Folate Intake from Food?
Although it is possible to obtain adequate folate through a balanced diet, naturally occurring folates can lose potency during storage and cooking. This means that the amount of folate in food can decrease significantly before it even reaches your plate. Folates also need to be converted into a usable form by the body, which means many people may not get sufficient amounts through food alone.
When Does Your Body Need Folate?
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Before pregnancy
Folate is widely recommended for women who are planning a pregnancy because it supports healthy early foetal development and helps reduce the risk of certain birth defects. It also plays an important role in fertility, as healthy folate levels are needed for normal cell growth and reproduction. Since some people have difficulty converting folic acid into its active form, choosing an active folate such as Quatrefolic may help ensure the body can use it more effectively.
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During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the body's need for folate increases to support the baby's rapid growth and development. Maintaining healthy folate levels is especially important during the early weeks of pregnancy, as this is a critical stage for the development of the brain and spinal cord. Active folate is ready for the body to use without requiring additional conversion, making it a suitable option for many expecting mothers.
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During Childhood
Folate continues to play an important role throughout childhood by supporting healthy growth, brain development, and the production of new cells. While some whole foods naturally contain folate, the vitamin can break down due to environmental factors. Active folate supplements may help fill this gap, providing it in a form the body can use directly.
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During Menopause
Folate may also support women during menopause. Research suggests it can contribute to better moods, cognitive function, and nervous system health, which may be helpful during this stage of life. Maintaining healthy folate levels may also assist with managing common menopausal symptoms as part of an overall wellness plan.
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Healthy Ageing
As we grow older, it can become more difficult to maintain healthy folate levels. Folate supports normal brain function, red blood cell production, nerve health, immune function, and DNA maintenance, making it an important nutrient for healthy ageing. Because active folate is already in a form the body can use, it provides a convenient way to support folate levels without relying on the body's conversion process.
How Folate Positively Impacts the Body
Once folate is in its active form, it gets to work on several important functions in the body, including:
- Producing red blood cells: Folate helps the body produce healthy red blood cells, reducing fatigue and supporting energy levels.
- Healthy pregnancy tissue growth: Getting enough folate before and during pregnancy is linked to healthy tissue growth and a lower risk of neural tube defects.
- Balanced mood: Working together with vitamin B12, active folate helps activate the brain chemicals linked to mood.
- Brain function: Folate plays a recognised role in maintaining healthy nerve function and normal cognitive performance.
- Healthy homocysteine levels: Active folate helps convert homocysteine, an amino acid that can be linked to heart and brain concerns when levels run high.
- Cell growth and repair: Folate is actively involved in DNA replication and normal cell division, useful for repairing the body’s skin cells and promoting hair and nail health.
These are functions recognised in nutrition science, not treatment claims. Anyone dealing with a specific health condition should check with a healthcare professional before changing their supplement routine.
Why Choose Quatrefolic?
Out of all the methylated folate options sold, Quatrefolic is one of the most studied, patented forms of active 5-MTHF, and it's central to many active folate benefits. The Quatrefolic benefits most often mentioned in research and product formulation include:
- Ready to use straight away: No conversion step needed, so your body can absorb it right away.
- Stays stable: Its glucosamine-salt structure dissolves and stores well compared to calcium-based versions of active folate.
- Innovative dietary ingredient: Quatrefolic is designed to provide nutritional support in diets where folic acid intake or supplementation is recommended.
Active folate in South Africa is still a fairly new concept compared to international health supplement markets. This makes it valuable to have an accessible, local option through FoodGrown for anyone wanting to move past standard folic acid supplements.
How Does FoodGrown Fit into the Equation?
FoodGrown Folate with Quatrefolic® gives you 400 ug of elemental folate in each capsule, covering a full day's recommended intake in one dose. It's made using whole, recognisable natural foods rather than heavily processed inputs wherever possible.
We offer 100% natural, food-grown vitamins and supplements made in SAHPRA-accredited facilities. Our philosophy is based on getting nutrition from food rather than synthetic supplementation, with a focus on better absorption, natural co-factors, and a cleaner alternative to isolated compounds. This same thinking runs through our whole range, which is why so many label-conscious South Africans choose FoodGrown’s non-synthetic health supplements as part of their everyday routine.
When comparing bioavailability across brands, it helps to remember that natural vitamins are usually easier for the body to recognise than lab-made compounds, and that food-grown vitamins are manufactured to keep the co-factors nature packaged alongside each nutrient.
Where to Purchase Supplements as Nature Intended
Now that you know the active folate benefits, you can confidently shop for your food-grown vitamins and natural health supplements. FoodGrown’s Folate with Quatrefolic® is available through Dis-Chem pharmacies in South Africa, both in-store and online, so you can shop somewhere you already trust.
Browse the FoodGrown range online, and click the Shop Now links on each product page to complete your purchase directly through Dis-Chem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Quatrefolic the same as folic acid?
A: No, it isn’t. Folic acid is synthetic and needs to be converted before your body can use it, whereas Quatrefolic is already active, so that conversion step isn't needed.
Q: Can I take active folate if I'm not pregnant?
A: Yes, you can. While folate is well known for its role in reproductive health, it also helps with producing healthy red blood cells, mood balance and brain function, making it useful for adults at every life stage.
Q: How do I know if I need active folate instead of regular folic acid?
A: Your healthcare practitioner can help you figure this out, especially if the MTHFR gene variant runs in your family, or if regular folic acid hasn't made much difference to your energy, mood or bloodwork.
Q: What makes FoodGrown’s range different?
A: We at FoodGrown embrace a food-first philosophy, creating supplements designed to work in harmony with your body. Our sustainably sourced, real food-grown vitamins offer excellent bioavailability, are generally easier to absorb and use, and naturally include enzymes and supporting co-factors that help optimise nutrient absorption.
