Human Folate Bioavailability

Öhrvik, Veronica; Witthöft, Cornelia M.

doi:10.3390/nu3040475

Cited by 96 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…The food matrix affects folate absorption from natural foods [43,76]. The bioavailability of food folates showed large variability in short-term studies (12-24 h) [44,85]. Other physiological factors (genetic polymorphisms, baseline folate status, status of the related nutrients) can affect folate bioavailability (both dietary folate and FA) [19,46,99,134].…”

Section: Handling Natural Folates Versus Folic Acidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate an alternative to folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects?

Obeid

Holzgreve

Pietrzik

2013

Journal of Perinatal Medicine

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Women have higher requirements for folate during pregnancy. An optimal folate status must be achieved before conception and in the first trimester when the neural tube closes. Low maternal folate status is causally related to neural tube defects (NTDs). Many NTDs can be prevented by increasing maternal folate intake in the preconceptional period. Dietary folate is protective, but recommending increasing folate intake is ineffective on a population level particularly during periods of high demands. This is because the recommendations are often not followed or because the bioavailability of food folate is variable. Supplemental folate [folic acid (FA) or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methylTHF)] can effectively increase folate concentrations to the level that is considered to be protective. FA is a synthetic compound that has no biological functions unless it is reduced to dihydrofolate and tetrahydrofolate. Unmetabolized FA appears in the circulation at doses of > 200 μg. Individuals show wide variations in their ability to reduce FA. Carriers of certain polymorphisms in genes related to folate metabolism or absorption can better benefit from 5-methylTHF instead of FA. 5-MethylTHF [also known as (6S)-5-methylTHF] is the predominant natural form that is readily available for transport and metabolism. In contrast to FA, 5-methylTHF has no tolerable upper intake level and does not mask vitamin B 12 deficiency. Supplementation of the natural form, 5-methylTHF, is a better alternative to supplementation of FA, especially in countries not applying a fortification program. Supplemental 5-methylTHF can effectively improve folate biomarkers in young women in early pregnancy in order to prevent NTDs.

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Section: Handling Natural Folates Versus Folic Acidmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate an alternative to folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects?

Obeid

Holzgreve

Pietrzik

2013

Journal of Perinatal Medicine

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“…In fact, folic acid is photosensitive and suffers from oxidative degradation, which is enhanced by oxygen, heat and acid pH conditions (Akhtar, Khan, & Ahmad, 1999;Off et al, 2005). This results in a splitting of the molecule into biologically inactive forms (Madziva, Kailasapathy, & Phillips, 2006) and, as suggested from different studies, in a significant decrease in the oral bioavailability of the vitamin (Ohrvik & Witthoft, 2011;O'Leary & Sheehy, 2001). The aim of this work was to design casein nanoparticles for the oral delivery of folic acid.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Casein nanoparticles as carriers for the oral delivery of folic acid

et al. 2015

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Alimentary proteins can be viewed as an adequate material for the preparation of nanoparticles and microparticles. They offer several advantages such as their digestibility, price and a good capability to interact with a wide variety of compounds and nutrients. The aim of this work was to prepare and characterize casein nanoparticles for the oral delivery of folic acid. These nanoparticles were prepared by a coacervation process, stabilized with either lysine or arginine and, finally, dried by spray-drying. For some batches, the effect of a supplementary treatment of nanoparticles (before drying) with hydrodynamic high pressure on the properties of the resulting carriers was also evaluated. The resulting nanoparticles displayed a mean size close to 150 nm and a folic acid content of around 25 mg per mg nanoparticle. From the in vitro release studies, it was observed that casein nanoparticles acted as gastro-resistant devices and, thus, folic acid was only released under simulated intestinal conditions. For the pharmacokinetic study, folic acid was orally administered to laboratory animals as a single dose of 1 mg/kg. Animals treated with folic acidloaded casein nanoparticles displayed significantly higher serum levels than those observed in animals receiving an aqueous solution of the vitamin. As a consequence the oral bioavailability of folic acid when administered in casein nanoparticles was calculated to be around 52%, a 50% higher than with the traditional aqueous solution. Unfortunately, the treatment of casein nanoparticles by hydrodynamic high pressure modified neither the release profile of the vitamin nor its oral bioavailability.

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“…Folic acid (vitamin B 9 ) is a synthetic, oxidized form of folate with high bioavailability [10]. Because it is not synthesized in humans, oral supplementation of folate is necessary [11]. Folate is not only a structural component of cells but is also essential for the regulation of Hcy, DNA and RNA metabolism, and methylation of multiple proteins [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of folic acid on dyslipidemia and serum homocysteine in a rat model of cholestasis and hepatic fibrosis

Mohammadian¹,

Eidi²,

Mortazavi³

et al. 2015

pjp

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The liver is the major site for storage and metabolism of folate. Folate deficiency is common in many liver diseases and causes severe effects on cellular metabolism and increases oxidative stress and the homocysteine (Hcy) level. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of folic acid on dyslipidemia and serum Hcy concentrations in an experimental rat model of cholestasis. Eighty-one male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups: control, sham-operated, folic acid control, bile duct-ligated (BDL), and BDL+ folic acid groups. In folic acid treated groups, folic acid (1, 5, and 10 mg/kg body weight) was given orally for 28 days. After taking blood and liver samples, plasma lipid profiles and Hcy and hepatic reduced and oxidized glutathione concentrations were measured. Histopathological features of cholestasis were assessed by Masson's trichrome staining. Treatment of folic acid in BDL rats significantly prevented the progression of hepatic fibrosis and improved the serum and liver biochemical changes. These results suggest that folic acid protects the liver against cholestasis by reducing serum Hcy and by its antioxidant properties. Folic acid can be an important therapeutic intervention in dyslipidemia caused by cholestasis.

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Human Folate Bioavailability

Cited by 96 publications

References 74 publications

Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate an alternative to folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects?

Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate an alternative to folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects?

Casein nanoparticles as carriers for the oral delivery of folic acid

Effects of folic acid on dyslipidemia and serum homocysteine in a rat model of cholestasis and hepatic fibrosis

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