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Folate in infant and toddler foods, FSMP and dietary supplements

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Innovative method for the quantitative determination of the total folate and the dietary folate equivalent

Oct. 2021. Eurofins now offers an innovative method for the quantitative determination of total folate content in infant and toddler foods, FSMP and dietary supplements, complemented by the calculation of the dietary folate equivalent.

The new analysis method at a glance

  • Normative basis of the newly established method: AOAC method 2013.13
  • Method: LC-MS / MS
  • Lower LOQs
  • Determination of mono- as well as polyglutamates
  • The most important naturally occurring food folates are determined in a differentiated manner:
    • Folic acid (pteroylmonoglutamic acid)
    • 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF)
    • 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-HCO-THF)
    • 10-formyl folicacid (10-HCO-FA)
    • 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (5,10-MTN-THF)

All folates can be quantified individually and the results can also be expressed as sum parameters in the form of formyl folate, total folate and dietary folic acid equivalent (DFE).

The method is suitable for infant and toddler food, dietary supplements as well as food for special medical purposes (FSMP), and thus helps to check your products for the specifications according to the regulations (EU) No. 2016/127[1] and (EU) No. 2016/128[2].

What are folates? Definition, occurrence and function

Folate is a generic term for a group of water-soluble B9 vitamins that play an important role in the human body. Folates are mainly found in the form of polyglutamates both in plant foods (e.g. spinach, asparagus, lettuce and tomatoes) and in animal foods (e.g. liver). A folate deficiency can lead to cardiovascular diseases, cancer and, during pregnancy, to so-called neural tube defects (malformations of the central nervous system) in the embryo. The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends a daily intake of 300 µg folate equivalents to ensure an adequate supply of folates[3].

Like other vitamins, folates have limited stability and can be degraded by heat, light and oxidation in particular. Within the folate group, synthetically produced folic acid (FA) is the most stable vitamin, which is why this folate is mainly used to supplement food.

Legal background

Supplementing the European Regulation (EU) No. 609/2013[4], the two delegated regulations (EU) No. 2016/127 and (EU) No. 2016/128 have been applicable since the beginning of 2020 at the latest. As a result, minimum and maximum levels for folate in the form of dietary folate equivalent (DFE) now apply to infant formula, follow-on formula and FSMPs. With the new method, Eurofins enables the required determination and quantification of folic acid and dietary folates.

Of particular interest to producers of dietary supplements is that, in addition to the monoglutamate forms, polyglutamate forms of the various folates are now also determined - lower results are therefore not to be expected.

Have we piqued your interest?

If you would like to know more about the new legal regulations concerning folates or have questions about our analysis, our experts will be happy to help you at any time. Please contact either your personal account manager or our expert Oliver Schwöbel.

 

References, relevant regulations

[1] Consolidated text: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 as regards the specific compositional and information requirements for infant formula and follow-on formula and as regards requirements on information relating to infant and young child feeding
[2] Consolidated text: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/128 as regards the specific compositional and information requirements for food for special medical purposes
[3] In German: K.-H. Bässler, I. Golly, D. Loew, K. Pietrzik: “Vitamin Lexikon – Für Ärzte, Apotheker und Ernährungswissenschaftler” Urban & Fischer Verlag, 3. Auflage 2002.
[4] Consolidated text: Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control