Webinar preview: Balchem unveils innovative active folate for multiple health benefits

15 Jul 2024 --- Balchem launches choline-enriched folate to support optimal cellular health across all life stages, linked to prenatal care, heart and brain health. The new patented ingredient combines the benefits of folate (L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate or L-5-MTHF) with Balchem’s leading brand of choline, VitaCholine. 

Ahead of the company’s upcoming webinar, “Innovation in Folate Nutrition: How Optifolin⁺ Supports Prenatal, Brain and Heart Health,” Nutrition Insight discusses Balchem’s newest ingredient with Lauren Eisen, sr. marketing and BD manager at the company and one of the speakers at the webinar. 

Eisen tells us that the choline-enriched folate ingredient delivers “seven times the methyl groups compared to other folates on the market and provides greater solubility and stability to aid in product formulation.” 

“Optifolin⁺ is also designed to deliver multiple health benefits for all stages of life by empowering cellular health to support pregnancy and child development, as well as heart and cognitive health through to adulthood,” she says. 

Eisen explains that Optifolin⁺ is the “only active folate with 7x methyl agent advantage and 98% active methylating capacity to impact gene, protein and cell function, making it important for natural methylation and comprehensive health support.” 

“This ingredient promotes balanced and effective methylation within the body, showing great potential to regulate the activity of the body’s cardiovascular, neurological and reproductive systems.”

Tailored solutions 
Eisen notes that consumers seek tailored solutions that address specific needs through all life stages. 

“During pregnancy, expecting mothers aim to give their children the best start possible, and adequate folate is a critical aspect of their diets that can help achieve this. As we age, we become more aware of our lifestyle’s impact on our health, and prioritizing dietary approaches to supporting heart and brain health are essential.” 

Eisen explains that Optifolin⁺ plays a role throughout pregnancy, for example in fetus’ development and growth.Balchem focuses on developing next-generation ingredients that address various health areas and tackle its customers’ challenges. “As an innovative form of the essential nutrient folate, Optifolin⁺ provides formulators with a versatile ingredient that can help consumers address each of these needs,” she adds.

“When it comes to prenatal health, for example, in the US, an estimated 70% of pregnant women are taking prenatal vitamins, which creates an opportunity for brands to deliver novel technology during a critical time of life.” 

“We anticipate a significant evolution in the market of folate supplements, moving away from the conventional ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to a more personalized, precise and multi-pathway approach to supplementation. Recognizing the diverse genetic, dietary and lifestyle factors influencing individuals’ folate requirements, this shift will highlight the importance of tailored products beneficial to individual health outcomes.”

Prenatal care 
Eisen says that a woman’s nutritional needs change dramatically while pregnant. She highlights that proper nutrition is at the top of women’s minds from conception to postpartum. 

“To keep moms and babies healthy throughout the entire journey, folate is paramount — experts recommend consuming adequate amounts of folate at least one to three months before conception.” 

She explains that Optifolin⁺ plays a role throughout pregnancy. In the early stages, folate supports DNA synthesis and cell division for the fetus’ development. 

“Its influence extends to neural tube development, as adequate folate in healthful diets may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord defect,” Eisen continues. “Supplementation during this period shows the potential to reduce the risk of neural tube defects by up to 80%.” 

“In late pregnancy, L-5-MTHF further enhances the baby’s healthy growth, aiding in blood cell production to reduce the risk of megaloblastic anemia in women, a consequence of folate deficiency that impacts nearly one in 20 women in the US.”

At the same time, she underscores the importance of maintaining adequate folate levels postpartum and during breastfeeding, with requirements increasing by 25% compared to non-pregnant women. “In this phase, L-5-MTHF helps women’s wellness by supporting optimal brain, nerve and cardiovascular function for both mom and baby.”

Supplementing with Optifolin⁺ also unlocks cognitive, heart and epigenetic health.She adds that Optifolin⁺ is a “nature-identical form of folate,” comparable to the predominant form found in breast milk and umbilical cord blood. 

“Through the unique metabolic relationship between L-5-MTHF and choline, supplementation with Optifolin⁺ can help normal physiological processes, especially during pregnancy and lactation.”

Multiple health benefits 
Eisen asserts that the benefits of Optifolin⁺ go beyond prenatal care; it also supports cardiovascular and brain health. 

“It is another piece of our portfolio, empowering people, performance and vitality. By incorporating this folate into their daily routines, consumers can support multiple health areas — from mood regulation to cognition to heart health. This opens untapped opportunities for manufacturers looking to innovate with folate.”

“Supplementing with Optifolin⁺ unlocks multiple benefits across all life stages, including cognitive, heart and epigenetic health. Folate is an essential nutrient, supporting the brain and nervous system by maintaining normal homocysteine levels.”

Specifically, the new ingredient supports heart health. Eisen explains that because folate plays a role in healthy homocysteine metabolism and the production of red blood cells, Optifolin⁺ “contributes to normal blood formation and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.”

Product development 
Compared to existing folate solutions on the market, Eisen notes that Optifolin⁺ is the “first choline-enriched folate to be introduced in this space.” 

“With this ingredient, we aim to inspire brands to explore new product development to support people, performance and vitality.” 

“The combination of choline and L-5-MTHF offers improved stability and solubility in application. This translates into a longer shelf life and improved performance, simplifying the formulation of convenient supplement solutions such as tablets, capsules, sachets and stick packs that cater to various consumer needs.”

Balchem is currently developing a pipeline of clinical research to support the growth of Optifolin⁺. 

“We believe the 7x methyl agent advantage offered by Optifolin⁺ unlocks the immense potential to deliver clinically demonstrated benefits for human health,” concludes Eisen. “The US is the largest dietary supplement market, allowing Balchem to focus on launching this potential.” 

By Jolanda van Hal