Trimethyl Tetrahydro Folate and Folic Acid

Trimethyl tetrahydrofolate (TMTHF) and folic acid are both forms of folate, which is a B-vitamin essential for various biological processes in the body. However, they differ in their chemical structure and how they are utilized in the body.

Folic Acid: Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate and is commonly used in dietary supplements and fortified foods. It is not naturally occurring in the body or in food sources. Folic acid needs to undergo several enzymatic conversions in the body to be converted into its active form, which is called 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) or methylfolate. The conversion of folic acid to its active form requires the presence of specific enzymes and is a multi-step process.

Trimethyl Tetrahydrofolate (TMTHF): TMTHF is a naturally occurring form of folate that is directly converted from dietary folate sources or from the active form of folate, 5-MTHF. TMTHF is the biologically active form of folate and can readily enter the metabolic pathways in the body without the need for enzymatic conversions.

Why it is important to test Trimethyl Tetrahydro Folate and Folic Acid

Purpose	Description
Nutritional Labelling and Claims	Testing allows for accurate determination of the levels of MTHF and folic acid in food products. This information is important for nutritional labelling and claims made on product packaging, ensuring that consumers have accurate information about the folate content in the food they consume. It helps individuals make informed choices based on their dietary needs or restrictions.
Quality Control	Testing helps maintain quality control in the food industry. Manufacturers can verify that their products meet specific folate content requirements or standards, ensuring consistency and accuracy in the formulation and production of folate-fortified foods or supplements.
Regulatory Compliance	In some regions, regulations are in place to ensure the accurate fortification of certain foods with folic acid. Testing helps verify compliance with these regulations, ensuring that food products are fortified appropriately and providing consistent levels of folate to consumers.
Research and Development	Testing MTHF and folic acid in foods aids in research and development efforts to enhance the nutritional value of food products. It provides valuable data on the folate content of different food sources, helping researchers and food manufacturers identify natural sources of folate or optimize fortification strategies.
Dietary Assessment and Monitoring	Testing allows for the assessment and monitoring of folate intake in population studies or nutritional surveys. It helps researchers and policymakers understand folate consumption patterns, identify deficiencies, and evaluate the impact of fortification programs or dietary interventions.

Market overview

The estimated global market size for folate in 2021 was USD 876.52 million. It is projected to exceed USD 1,481.05 million by 2030, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% from 2022 to 2030.

Regulations and standards

In India, the use of folic acid as a food additive is regulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Folic acid falls under the category of food fortificants, which are substances added to food to increase their nutritional value. Here are some key regulations and standards related to folic acid in India.

Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods) Regulations:

The FSSAI has established regulations for the fortification of certain foods, including wheat flour, rice, edible oil, and milk.

Folic acid is one of the mandatory fortificants listed in these regulations.
The regulations specify the permissible levels of folic acid to be added to fortified foods.

Labeling Requirements:

Food products fortified with folic acid must comply with the labeling requirements set by the FSSAI.
The label should clearly indicate the presence of folic acid and its concentration in the fortified food product.

Nutritional Requirements:

Folic acid fortification is primarily aimed at addressing folate deficiency, particularly in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women.
The FSSAI sets guidelines for the nutritional requirements of folic acid in fortified foods to ensure adequate intake for the target population.

Testing methods

The AOAC (Association of Official Agricultural Chemists) method 2013.13 provides a specific testing protocol for the determination of folic acid and folate, including Trimethyl Tetrahydro Folate (TMTHF), in various food matrices.

Testing Method	Description
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)	Separates compounds based on interactions with stationary and mobile phases, followed by detection using UV-visible spectroscopy or fluorescence.
Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)	Combines liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry for identification and quantification based on mass-to-charge ratio and molecular structure.
Microbiological Assay	Measures total folate activity by utilizing folate-dependent microorganisms and correlating growth with folate content.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)	Utilizes specific antibodies to detect and quantify folic acid or TMTHF through binding and enzyme-labelled antibody reactions.

Eurofins role in Trimethyl Tetrahydro Folate and Folic Acid testing

Eurofins is a global leader in laboratory testing and food safety services. While I don't have access to specific information on Eurofins' involvement with the AOAC 2013.13 method for Trimethyl Tetrahydro Folate (TMTHF) and folic acid testing, Eurofins is known to offer a wide range of analytical testing services, including food testing.

Normative Basis: The method is established based on the AOAC method 2013.13, which provides guidelines for the analysis of folic acid and folate.

Method: Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is used for the analysis, which offers high sensitivity and accuracy in quantifying folate compounds.

Lower LOQs: The method allows for the determination of folate compounds at lower limits of quantification (LOQs), enhancing sensitivity and precision in the analysis.

Mono- and Polyglutamates: The method enables the determination of both mono- and polyglutamate forms of folate compounds, providing a comprehensive analysis of the folate content.

Differentiated Analysis: The method allows for the specific quantification of important naturally occurring food folates, including folic acid, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-HCO-THF), 10-formyl folic acid (10-HCO-FA), and 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (5,10-MTN-THF).

Individual and Sum Parameters: All folate compounds can be quantified individually, and the results can also be expressed as sum parameters such as formyl folate, total folate, and dietary folic acid equivalent (DFE).

Compliance with Regulations: The method helps to ensure that products comply with the specifications outlined in the regulations (EU) No. 2016/127 and (EU) No. 2016/128, which provide guidelines for infant and toddler foods, dietary supplements, and FSMP.

Eurofins Analytical Services India, located in Bangalore, has achieved a significant milestone by receiving recognition from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods (LAAF) program. This makes Eurofins the first laboratory in Asia to receive such recognition.

References

Meisser-Redeuil K, Bénet S, Gimenez C, Campos-Giménez E, Maria N. Determination of folate in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: First Action 2013.13. J AOAC Int. 2014 Jul-Aug;97(4):1121-6. doi: 10.5740/jaoacint.14-055. PMID: 25145147.
https://www.precedenceresearch.com/folate-market