• Title/Summary/Keyword: Folate

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Serum Folate and Iron Levels of Pregnant, Lactating, and Non-Pregnant, Non-Lactating Women (임신부, 수유부의 혈청 엽산과 철 수준에 관한 연구)

  • 장남수
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.67-75
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    • 1993
  • Folate and iron nutrition was studied in a total of 122 pregnant, lactaging, and non-pregant, non-lactating Korean women, Serum folate levels were determined microbiologically using Lactobacillus casei(ATCC 7469), and serum iron levels was analyzed colormetrically. The average folate values of pregnant and lactating women were 5.42ng/ml and 4.14ng/ml, which were significantly lower than that of the non-pregnant, non-lactating women(7.06ng/ml). More than 1/3 of the total subjects were found to have serum folate levels lower than 3ng/ml, at which folate nutrition status can be considered inadequate. Serum iron values of pregnant(96.9ug/dl)and lactating women(93.9ug/dl) were not significantly different from that of the non-pregnant, non-lactating women (97.1ug/dl). There were however, more iron-deficient subjects in the pregnant gorup(17%) and the lactating group(19%) than in the non-pregnant, non-lactating group (8%). A statistically significant positive correlation was shown between the levels of serum folate and iron in lactating women(r=.9694, p<0.05). The results of our study document that folate deficiency is a nutritional problem as prevalent as iron deficiency in Korean women, especially during pregnancy and lactation. For these women a routine folate and iron supplementation might be necessary.

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Vitamin $B_6$ and Folate Status in Alcohol Dependent Rural Elderly People in Korea (농촌지역 알코올 의존자들의 비타민 $B_6$ 및 엽산 영양상태)

  • 장남수
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.257-262
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    • 2000
  • This paper is to report our findings that vitamin B6 and folate nutritional state in the rural elderly population with alcohol dependency is poor. The present study was carried out to assess vitamin B6 and folate status in the 17 rural elderly subjects with alcohol dependency and 15 age-and sex-matched controls. Plasma and red cell folate concentrations were analyzed microbiologically, and pyridoxal-5-phosphate dependent erythrocyte alanine aspartate transminase(EAST) activity coefficients were determined using enzyme-coenzyme saturation kinetics. There was no difference in the amount of vitamin consumed between the two groups, and their intakes were 64% and 74.7%, respectively of the Korean dietary recommended allowances for vitamin B6 and folate. The mean percent activation for EAST of the total subjects was greater than 80%, suggesting an inadequate vitamin B6 status between the two groups. Folate concentrations in the red cell, but not in the plasma were significantly lower in the alcohol dependent(141.9ng/ml) subjects than that of the control(233.2ng/ml). Cigarette smokers had lower vitamin B6 and folate levels. Plasma and red cell folate levels were highest among the non-smoking, non-alcohol dependent subjects(11.7 and 257.3ng/ml, respectively) and lowest in the smoker-alcohol dependent group(6.7 and 132.9ng/ml). Finding ways to improve vitamin nutritional state such as vitamin supplementation might be necessary for the rural elderly people, especially for those with alcohol dependency.

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Genomic DNA Methylation Status and Plasma Homocysteine in Choline- and Folate-Deficient Rats (콜린과 엽산 결핍이 흰쥐의 Genomic DNA 메틸화와 혈장 호모시스테인에 미치는 영향)

  • Mun, Ju-Ae;Min, Hye-Sun
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.14-23
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    • 2007
  • Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer disease, although the mechanism is still unknown. Both folate and betaine, a choline metabolite, play essential roles in the remethylation of Hcy to methionine. Choline deficiency may be associated with low folate status and high plasma Hcy. Alterations in DNA methylation also have established critical roles for methylation in development of the nervous system. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of choline and folate deficiency on Hcy metabolism and genomic DNA methylation status of the liver and brain. Groups of adult male Sprague Dawley rats were fed on a control, choline-deficient (CD), folate-deficient (FD) or choline/folate-deficient (CFD) diets for 8 weeks. FD resulted in a significantly lower hepatic folate (23%) (p<0.001) and brain folate (69%) (p<0.05) compared to the control group. However, plasma and brain folate remained unaltered by CD and hepatic folate reduced to 85% of the control by CD (p<0.05). Plasma Hcy was significantly increased by FD $(18.34{\pm}1.62{\mu}M)$ and CFD $(19.35{\pm}3.62{\mu}M)$ compared to the control $(6.29{\pm}0.60{\mu}M)$ (p<0.001), but remained unaltered by CD. FD depressed S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) by 59% (p<0.001) and elevated S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAM) by 47% in liver compared to the control group (p<0.001). In contrast, brain SAM levels remained unaltered in CD, FD and CFD rats. Genomic DNA methylation status was reduced by FD in liver (p<0.05) Genomic DNA hypomethylation was also observed in brain by CD, FD and CFD although it was not significantly different from the control group. Genomic DNA methylation status was correlated with folate stores in liver (r=-0.397, p<0.05) and brain (r = -0.390, p<0.05), respectively. In conclusion, our data demonsoated that genomic DNA methylation and SAM level were reduced by folate deficiency in liver, but not in brain, and correlated with folate concentration in the tissue. The fact that folate deficiency had differential effects on SAM, SAH and genomic DNA methylation in liver and brain suggests that the Hcy metabolism and DNA methylation are regulated in tissue-specific ways.

Effects of Dietary Methionine and Folate Supplementation in Ethanol-Fed Rats

  • Mun, Ju-Ae;Min, Hye-Sun
    • Nutritional Sciences
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    • v.9 no.2
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    • pp.106-111
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    • 2006
  • Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with perturbation of hepatic metabolism of sulphur-containing amino acid. The goal of present study was to evaluate the influence of dietary supplementation of methionine or folate to chronically ethanol-fed mts on the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids and one-carbon metabolism. Sprague-Dawley male mts were fed Lieber-Decarli liquid diet with 0% ethanol (control), 36% ethanol (E), 36% ethanol combined with methionine supplement (EM) or folate supplement (EF) for 8 weeks. Hepatic S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), plasma folate and homocysteine (Hcy), urinary excretion of folate and formiminoglutamate were investigated after feeding experimental diets. Growth was retarded by 36% ethanol consupmtion (E, EM and EF) (p<0.01). Liver total fat (p<0.05) and plasma ALT (P<0.01) were increased by methionine supplementation (EM), implicating fatty liver and liver injury. Liver folate was increased slightly by folate supplementation (EF) (p=0.077). Urinary folate loss was increased 2.3 fold by ethanol consumption (E) and 17.2 fold by folate supplementation (EF), while decreased by methionine supplementation (EM) (p<0.000l). Plasma Hcy was increased 1.9 fold by methionine supplementation (EM) in ethanol-fed mts (p<0.05), which was related with decreased methionine synthase activity (p<0.05). Hepatic SAM/SAH ratio was depressed by methionine supplementation in ethanol-fed mts (EM) (p<0.05). Urinary formininoglutamate (Figlu) excretion after histidine loading was increased by ethanol ingestion and reduced by methionine supplementation (p<0.00l). Based on these data, methionine supplementation appears to accelerate histidine oxidation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of methionine to ethanol-fed mts exacerbates alcoholic liver injury possibly by complicating sulphur-containing amino acid metabolism, as while it may have beneficial effects on folate and histidine metabolism.

Development and Evaluation of the Semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire to Assess Folate Intake in Women of Child-bearing Age (가임기 여성을 위한 엽산섭취빈도조사지 개발 및 평가)

  • Han, Bo-Ram;Bae, Hyun-Sook
    • Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.156-166
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    • 2012
  • The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the simple semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing folate intake in women of reproductive age. We developed a 30-item FFQ, and tested the reliability and validity in 97 women aged between 20 and 39 yrs using the FFQs and 24-h recalls, which were carried out twice, respectively. Assessing the reliability, the correlation coefficients were 0.53 (Spearman's) and 0.49 (Pearson's) for folate. There was no significant difference of folate intake between FFQ1 and FFQ2. 36.1% subjects were classified into the same quartile and 83.5% into the same or adjacent quartile divided by folate intake. On determining the validity, the mean folate intake obtained from the FFQ (FFQ1) and 24h-recalls (2-d) were $306.6{\pm}167.2{\mu}g/d$ and $326.9{\pm}103.3{\mu}g/d$, respectively. There was no significant difference between folate intakes from the two methods. The correlation coefficients for folate were 0.24 (Spearman's) and 0.26 (Pearson's). 39.2% of the subjects were categorized into the same quartile and 70.1% were into the same or adjacent quartile. In addition, sensitivity (64.3%) and specificity (62.3%) were estimated to evaluate the adequacy of folate intake. These results suggest that this FFQ would be a useful and a valuable instrument to assess the intake of folate among the Korean women of child-bearing age.

Comparison of Serum Homocysteine, Folate and Vitamin B12 Level in Korean Schizophrenics (한국 정신분열병 환자에서의 혈중 Homocysteine, 엽산, Vitamin B12 농도 비교연구)

  • Kim, Tae Ho;Lee, Young Sik;Song, Seong Yong;Min, Kyung Joon;Kee, Baik Seok;Na, Chul;Chae, Seok Lae
    • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.94-103
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    • 2004
  • Objective:There have been a kind of transmethylation theory that high homocysteine serum concentration affects schizophrenia by neurotoxic mechanism and clinical reports that some schizophrenic patients with high homocysteine were improved by high folate ingestion. This study was done to confirm previous research results and find the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia showing high serum homocysteine and low folate. Method:We compared the serum levels of homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 level between 234 schizophrenic patients(male 99, female 135) group and 234 normal controls(male 99, female 135) group. The subjects of two groups were age and sex matched. The evaluated clinical characteristics items were sex, age, onset of disease, hereditary loading, disease course, hallucination and subtype of schizophrenia. Results:1) Homocysteine level of the schizophrenia group was significantly higher than the normal control group and folate level of the schizophrenia group was significantly lower than the normal control group. Homocysteine level was more negatively correlated with folate level in the schizophrenia group than the normal control group. 2) The percentage of high homocysteine(above 12.46umol/L;90 percentile of normal control) was 33.8% of schizophrenia patients and 51.5% of male schizophrenia. The percentage of low folate(below 3.8nM/L;bottom tertile of normal control) was 66.2% of schizophrenia. 3) In low folate group and not-low folate group, schizophrenia showed significantly higher homocysteine level than normal control. Especially, low folate schizophrenia group showed significantly higher homocysteine level than low folate normal control group. Conclusions:Some schizophrenia patients with high serum homocysteine may be genetic defector and having low folate serum level. In that case, folate ingestion could be a good management for clinical improvement.

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The Measurement of Folacin Content in Korean Foods -Part 3. Folate Distribution in Various Foods- (한국 상용 식품의 엽산 분석에 관한 연구 -제 3 보-)

  • Kim, Young-Min
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.53-63
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    • 1979
  • In continuation of the previous $studies^{2{\sim}3)}$, the folate activity levels in 226 Korean food items were determined by a modified microbiological assay with Lactobacillus casei. There was a large variation in folate activity between the different food groups as well as between each individual food. There was also a wide variation in the biologic availability of folate in foods and the different forms of the folate with different foods in varying amounts. Data showed that almost always, foods cooked and/or processed were lower in folate activity than fresh or raw food and the amount of the loss varied greatly in each food. In calculating dietary intake, total rather than free folate activity levels should he used. In addition, loss of folate activity during cooking and processing of foods should be considered as a major concern for appraising diets and food supplies. Among all assayed food items, including Part $I^{2)}}$ and $I^{3)}$, yeast 2800. ug total per 100g the highest folate level. Soybean, spinach, Shepherd's purse and liter of beef and pork had over 100 ug total per 100 g folate activity. Folate ranging over 50 ug total per 100 g was found in all dried legumes, nuts and seeds assayed, Garland Chrysanthemum, leek, mugwort, wafer cress, asparagus, e99 folk and beef kidney. Wheat, sweet Potatoes,dried fungus, green onion, hotrod pepper, lettuce, radish and some fermented soybeen products had considerably higher folate content ranging around 40 ug total per 100 g. Substantial amounts of folate were not found in many food groups, and among specific groups, in part in starch, sweets, fruits, meat, fish, milk, and cooked and processed foods. Soused fish, oils and fats, beverages, liquor and seasonings, other than fermented soybean products, had almost no folate.

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Lack of Effects of Dietary Folate Intake on Risk of Breast Cancer: An Updated Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies

  • Liu, Meng;Cui, Lian-Hua;Ma, Ai-Guo;Li, Na;Piao, Jin-Mei
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.5
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    • pp.2323-2328
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    • 2014
  • Background: Epidemiological findings are controversial relating to the relationship between dietary folate intake and the risk of breast cancer. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to clarify this association. Materials and Methods: PUBMED, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases were searched for all relevant literature published in English from January 1, 1966 to August 2013. Summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a fixed or random effects model. Results: Dietary folate intake was not significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer. The combined RR with 95%CI for the highest vs. lowest category dietary intake of folate [fifteen studies; 1,836,566 participants and 24,083 patients with breast cancer] was 0.98 (0.90-1.05). Among subgroup analysis by menstrual status, hormonal status and the consumption of alcohol, methionine and vitamin B12, no significant association was observed for the dietary intake of folate and the risk of breast cancer. Dose-response analysis showed that a 220 ${\mu}g/day$ increment in dietary folate intake was not associated with the risk of breast cancer. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that dietary folate intake has no significant effect on the risk of breast cancer.

Pharmacokinetics of Diltiazem and its Major Metabolite, Deacetyldiltiazem after Oral Administration of Diltiazem in Mild and Medium Folate-Induced Renal Failure Rabbits

  • Choi, Jun-Shik;Lee, Jin-Hwan;Burm, Jin-Pil
    • Archives of Pharmacal Research
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.333-337
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    • 2001
  • The pharmacokinetic changes of diltiazem (DTZ) and its main metabolite, deacetyldiltiazem (DAD) were studied after oral administration of DTZ to normal rabbits and mild and medium folate-induced renal failure rabbits. DTZ 10 mg/kg was given to the rabbits either orally (n=6). Plasma concentrations of DTZ and DAD were determined by a high performance liquid chromatography assay. The area under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) of DTZ were significantly increased in mild and medium folate-induced renal failure rabbits. The metabolite ratio of the DTZ to DAD were significantly decreased in mild and medium folate-induced renal failure rabbits. The volume of distribution ($V_{d}$) and total body clearance ($CL_{t}$) of DTZ were significantly decreased in mild and medium folate-induced renal failure rabbits. The elimination rate constant ($\beta$) of DTZ was significantly decreased in folate-induced renal failure rabbits, but that of DAD was significantly increased. These findings suggest that the hepatic metabolism of DTZ was inhibited and the $V_{d}$, $CL_{t}$ and $\beta$ of DTZ were significantly decreased in mild and medium folate-induced renal failure rabbits.

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The Relationships of Health-Related Lifestyles with Homocysteine, Folate, and Vitamin $B_{12}$ Status in Korean Adults (성인 남녀의 호모시스테인, 엽산 및 비타민 $B_{12}$ 상태와 건강관련 생활습관과의 상관관계)

  • 임현숙;남기선;허영란
    • Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.507-515
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    • 2001
  • The elevation of plasma total homocysteine(tHcy) is now established as a risk factro for cardiovascular disease. It is also well known that plasma levels of folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ influences homocysteine metabolism as cofactors. Recently, the effects of health-related lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol drinking coffee consumption, regular exercise, and etc, on plasma tHcy have been determined. The Hordalane Homocysteine Study revealed that smoking and coffee consumption are major deter minants of plasma tHcy as well as folate levels; however, the influence of alcohol intake is still controversial. In Koreans, the effects of lifestyle factors of plasma tHcy have not yet been determined. Thus, we investigated the relationships of various lifestyle determinants with plasma tHcy, folate, and vitamin $B_{12}$ levels and the erythrocyte folate concentrations in Korean adults (99 males and 96 fermales). Plasma tHcy levels were significantly hight in male subjects. On the contrary, plasma levels of folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ and erythrocyte folate concentration of the females were significantly higher than those of the males. Among the five lifestyle factors determined in the study, regular exercise significantly affects plasma tHcy levels only in the females, Contrary to the expectation, there were on significant differences in plasma tHcy levels between alcohol drinkers and non-alcohol drinkers as well as smokers and non-smokers. And also, plasma tHcy leverls were not different between coffee consumers and non-coffee consumer and between green tea consumers and non-green tea consumers. Although alcohol intake did not influence plasma tHcy levels, the duration, frequency, and amount of alcohol drinking showed significant negative relationships with plasma folate levers. These results indicate the regular exercise and alcohol intake might influence plasma levels of tHcy and folate in Koreans, although the results were not reveled in both sexes.

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