Gnosis by Lesaffre shines light on global folate deficiency impacting billions

Gnosis by Lesaffre draws to attention a new commentary in The Lancet Global Health asserting that folate inadequacy is widespread throughout the globe. The nutrient deficiency impacts more than half the world’s population — more than four billion people — disproportionately impacting many women and their offspring. 

“The high number of people — especially women — living with folate inadequacy is both surprising and somewhat disheartening, considering how many countries have implemented folate fortification programs,” says Jean Francois Jeanne, manager of the Gnosis Substantiation Team.

“At the same time, this substantiates the need for products containing adequate folate amounts, in its active form 5-MTHF, to ensure improved intake across all populations.”

The authors of the commentary, titled “Addressing global micronutrient inadequacies: enhancing global data representation,” emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions to address these gaps, particularly in regions with high inadequacy rates.

In the UK, this has been addressed by incoming legislation mandating that millers and flour producers must fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid by the end of 2026 to protect newborn babies from severe brain and spine problems.

Essential supplement

Folate, or vitamin B9, is essential for women of reproductive age as it plays a vital role in DNA synthesis, cell division and the proper neurological development of the fetus. Folate is critical for the approximate 140 million women who give birth each year — and their newborns — and up to 8% of pregnancies have complications, highlights Gnosis by Lesaffre.

Further, it notes women with impaired maternal and fetal homocysteine metabolism, along with low levels of active folate in the bloodstream, are associated with significant complications, such as fetal neural tube defects, preeclampsia and placental abruption, and recurrent pregnancy loss.

“However, folic acid is the current recommendation for those seeking to become pregnant,” states the nutraceutical ingredients supplier. “Yet, many women express an MTHFR polymorphism, which inhibits and reduces the conversion of folic acid into its active form, 5-MTHF; this potentially affects folate bioavailability.”

“Unlike folic acid, active folate (Quatrefolic) doesn’t require conversion in the body, making it more effective, particularly for those with this genetic mutation.”

Folate deficiency disproportionately impacts pregnant people and infants.Quatrefolic from Gnosis is an active folate, with research substantiating and quantifying its benefits in several health contexts for women’s health, including overall folate metabolism, cardiovascular health and fertility.

Supplementary findings

New research presented at the 2024 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology B Vitamins and One-Carbon Metabolism conference highlighted the risks of folate deficiency in overweight or obese women, linking it to metabolic and cognitive challenges for mother and child.

Adequate folate intake and glycemic control were emphasized to reduce birth defects and adverse outcomes. Spanish researchers at the event further showed that low early-pregnancy folate or B12 levels were associated with reduced cognitive performance in children, with folate being the stronger predictor.

Another recent study in the Journal of Nutrition found two-thirds of pregnant people are not getting enough dietary folate, while one-third may further lack sufficient calcium, vitamin C and vitamin A.

“We take very seriously the need to ensure the active folate we put into the market — our Quatrefolic — is of the highest quality and safety. Correcting this dangerous inadequacy is indeed possible with collaborations with our partners across the globe,” concludes Silvia Pisoni, Gnosis global operational marketing manager.