Quatrefolic®
(6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt
FolateLast reviewed: July 11, 2026
Medical & Industry Advisor: Dr. James Pendleton, ND
Answer
Availability
We have not verified a current supply status for this ingredient. Unknown is our default: we publish a status only with dated evidence. If you have first-hand sourcing information, use the correction link below.
Owner and access
- Owner
- Gnosis by Lesaffre (site)
- Access model
- Licensed program
What it is
- Fourth-generation folate (5-MTHF glucosamine salt) developed by Gnosis by Lesaffre, a business unit of Lesaffre. [quatrefolic.com]
Spec parameters buyers should demand
What to ask for on the certificate of analysis and spec sheet. Identity, quality, and regulatory parameters only. This is not advice about efficacy.
| Parameter | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Folate form and salt | Ask the certificate of analysis to state the exact folate form and salt: (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt. This is a different salt from calcium L-5-methylfolate, so confirm the CoA names the glucosamine salt and not another folate.[EFSA Scientific Opinion on] | Folate forms and salts are not interchangeable on a spec sheet; the salt determines the conversion factor to dietary folate equivalents used on the label. |
| Diastereomer specification | Ask the CoA to state the (6S) content relative to the (6R) form. The biologically usable folate is the (6S) diastereomer named in the EFSA opinion and the EU authorization.[EFSA Scientific Opinion, EFSA Journal 2013;11(10)] | Only the (6S) form is the specified folate source; the (6S)-to-(6R) split is a defining purity attribute for this ingredient. |
| Identity verification | Confirm the manufacturer runs at least one validated identity test on each incoming lot (for example HPLC), as 21 CFR 111.75(a)(1) requires for every dietary ingredient.[21 CFR 111.75(a)(1) — identity test required for each dietary ingredient] | Identity testing is a federal manufacturing requirement, and a certificate that names the method is the record your own quality file needs. |
| US and EU regulatory footing | Ask for the regulatory documentation on file: the (6S)-5-MTHF glucosamine salt has an EFSA opinion, EU authorization as a folate source in food supplements, and an FDA notification history. Request the specific references.[quatrefolic.com — regulatory & IP page] | The EU authorization and FDA notification record the ingredient's standing in both markets, which matters for products sold internationally. |
QC and testing considerations
- Every dietary ingredient must pass at least one validated identity test before use (21 CFR 111.75(a)(1)). Confirm your manufacturer runs identity testing on each incoming lot. [21 CFR 111.75(a)(1)]
- 5-MTHF is oxidation-sensitive; ask about the salt form and any stabilization, and confirm the CoA's folate form matches the label declaration and its dietary-folate-equivalent basis. [EFSA Scientific Opinion, EFSA Journal 2013;11(10)]
- Request the EU authorization reference and FDA notification documentation so the regulatory record travels with the material, especially for products sold in multiple markets. [quatrefolic.com — regulatory & IP page]
Further reading: How to read a certificate of analysis and third-party supplement testing.
Reference list
- EFSA Scientific Opinion on (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid, glucosamine salt as a source of folate added to food supplements, EFSA Journal 2013;11(10):3358 Regulatory
- 21 CFR Part 111 — Current Good Manufacturing Practice for dietary supplements (identity testing at 111.75) Regulatory
- Quatrefolic (Gnosis by Lesaffre) — regulatory & intellectual property page Owner technical
A reference list is not claim substantiation. Under the FTC's Health Products Compliance Guidance (December 2022), marketing claims about a finished product require competent and reliable scientific evidence, typically randomized, controlled human clinical testing. Responsibility for substantiating product claims rests with the brand.
Manufacturers with stated capability
No manufacturer has a listed capability for this ingredient yet. Listings are positive-only: an entry states a manufacturer can run the ingredient, never that one cannot.
Run this ingredient? Request inclusion.
Further reading
The decision framework behind this reference: five checkable criteria for choosing between a branded ingredient and its generic form.
What this page does not tell you
- Whether the owner will license your specific product or accept a new account.
- Pricing, minimum order volumes, or contract terms.
- Anything about efficacy. This is an identity and sourcing reference.
Prefills the ingredient into the RFQ Spec Builder. You enter your own formula; the tool formats it into a spec sheet.
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