Folate nurtures from day one. From the earliest stages of life, nutrition helps shape how our cells grow, communicate, and function, and few nutrients are as foundational as folate. Also known as vitamin B9, folate plays a critical role in DNA synthesis and cellular health, making it imperative during periods of rapid growth and development. In pregnancy, adequate folate supports healthy cell division and neural tube closure, laying the groundwork for the developing brain and spinal cord. As development continues into early childhood, folate remains essential, fueling neurotransmitter synthesis and regulating homocysteine metabolism through its central role in methylation, an epigenetic process that helps establish the foundations for cognitive development, lifelong brain health, and overall neurological resilience.
Because of the nutritional folate demands during fetal development and growth, health authorities recommend women who are pregnant or planning to conceive take an additional 400-800 µg of folic acid daily.
Folate Versus Folic Acid: Why the Difference Matters for Bioavailability
For many years, folic acid has been the preferred supplemental form of vitamin B9 because its stability makes it easy to add to foods and prenatal vitamins. However, folic acid itself is not bioactive, meaning it must be converted by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) before it can be used in the tissues. Especially with genetic polymorphisms or folic acid intake exceeding 200 µg, the body’s capacity to convert is limited and unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) can begin to accumulate.
These limitations have driven interest in developing more efficient alternate folate solutions such as L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-5-MTHF), a nature identical folate that bypasses folic acid’s metabolic barriers as an already activated folate.
Optifolin+®: Clinically Proven, Superior Absorption
Optifolin+® is a dicholine salt of (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate, matching the predominant, bioactive folate found in the serum, breast milk, and umbilical cord blood. It’s enriched with choline, another essential methyl donor that complements one-carbon metabolism to deliver a 7x methyl agent compared to other bioactive folates.
A recent double-blind, randomized crossover study was the first to directly compare the absorption of Optifolin+® to folic acid. In a group of 24 healthy adults, participants were randomly allocated to take a single dose of 400 µg folic acid or an equivalent amount of Optifolin+® after a period of fasting, with low-folate meals.
When serum levels were compared, Optifolin+® improved folate (L-5-MTHF) status by over 240% more than folic acid. Peak L-5-MTHF levels were reached in under one hour with Optifolin+® with no rise in unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA), unlike folic acid which peaked in 2.8 hours and caused a significant rise in UMFA concentration.
Researchers concluded that compared to folic acid, Optifolin+® rapidly and efficiently delivers bioactive folate for immediate use, without raising UMFA.
Supplement Smart with Optifolin+®
These findings reinforce that not all folate sources are created equal. Compared to folic acid, Optifolin+® delivers bioactive folate rapidly and efficiently for immediate metabolic use, without contributing to unmetabolized folic acid. Beyond pregnancy, optimal folate status remains essential across the lifecycle, supporting methylation, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and healthy aging.
For formulators and brands seeking ingredients that meet the highest standards of safety, bioavailability, and clinical validation, Optifolin+® offers a future ready solution.
Supplement smart and partner with Optifolin+® to support nutritional health from the earliest stages of life through healthy aging.
Learn more about Optifolin+® and how folate nurtures prenatal health.
