New retrospective study demonstrates innovative active folate from Gnosis by Lesaffre increased the chance of clinical pregnancy and live birth in infertile women.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health has just published a new retrospective study investigating the role of supplementation with vitamin B complex (5-methyltetrahydrofolate as Quatrefolic® from Gnosis by Lesaffre plus vitamins B12 and B6) versus folic acid (FA) on pregnancy outcomes (clinical pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and live birth) in infertile women undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Results showed that the Quatrefolic® group had a higher chance of clinical pregnancy and live birth than those supplementing with FA alone.
ART represent widely used procedures for the control and treatment of infertility, despite that most procedures remain unsuccessful, and the reason for this lack of success may have a multifactorial origin. Reproductive success is highly influenced by the female pre-conceptional health, including nutrition and micronutrient levels, which may play a pivotal role in this initial phase.
According to the study, “5-Methyltetrahydrofolate and Vitamin B12 Supplementation is Associated with Clinical Pregnancy, and Live Birth in Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology” [1], the homocysteine pathway in the preconception period should be evaluated to highlight micronutrient deficiencies and warrants optimal multivitamin supplementation. This is important for Assisted Reproduction, as FA is considered the standard supplementation for preconception care. The retrospective study aimed at investigating the role of a vitamin B complex (5-methyltetrahydrofolate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6) supplement use compared with the role of only FA supplement use, in relation to clinical pregnancy and live birth in infertile women undergoing homologous ART.
The researchers recruited 269 infertile women: 111 were supplemented daily with Quatrefolic® associated with other vitamin B and 158 with only FA. In the vitamin B complex-supplemented women, the mean number of Metaphase II oocytes and the pronuclear stage (2PN) fertilization rate score were higher than in women supplemented with FA.
The results showed a higher percentage of women in the vitamin B complex group had a clinical pregnancy and live birth in comparison to the FA group, leading the authors to conclude that “women undergoing homologous ART supplemented with 5-MTHF and vitamin B12, have a higher chance of clinical pregnancy and live birth in comparison to those supplemented with only folic acid. Further prospective studies and randomized clinical trial are needed to elucidate the effects of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine pathway in improving pregnancy outcomes in women after ART. If our findings were confirmed, this relatively inexpensive supplementation with vitamin B complex might be considered in clinical practice, particularly in women undergoing ART.”
“We are excited to see the increasing volume of publications related to the role of the biologically active form 5-MTHF as a better option than folic acid in fertility problems and pregnancy outcomes,” says Silvia Pisoni, global market manager of reproduction and women’s health with Gnosis by Lesaffre, noting that this study strengthens the positioning of Quatrefolic® in fertility, already shown by observational studies conducted on couples with a history fertility problem such as recurrent fetal loss, premature ovarian insufficiency, or abnormal sperm parameters.[2-5] “Quatrefolic® is proven to be a real solution with beneficial innovated features that match totally to the requirements of physicians and doctors to provide effective solutions and increase consumers’ compliance.”
References:
1 Cirillo, M.; Fucci, R.; Rubini, S.; Coccia, M.E.; Fatini, C.5-Methyltetrahydrofolate and Vitamin B12 Supplementation Is Associated with Clinical Pregnancy and Live Birth in Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 12280. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312280.
2 Servy EJ et al. J Assist Reprod Genet 2018; 35:1431–5.
3 Servy EJ, Ménézo Y. Clin Obstet Gynecol Reprod Med 2017; 3.
4 Clément A et al. J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod 2020; 49:101622.
5 Ménézo Y et al. Y. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021.
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