• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.137-141
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• 2005

The critical role of folate in the remethylation pathway for methionine synthesis from homocysteine has been well documented. Hyperhomocysteinemia resulting from inadequate folate nutrition has been implicated in increased incidence of macrovascular diseases, colorectal cancer, neural tube defects, etc. Chronic exposure to ethanol impairs folate nutrition and one-carbon metabolism in the liver, which often results in fatty liver due to a defective remetylation process. This study was carried out to investigate the chronic effects of moderate levels of alcohol and dietary folate on plasma homocysteine levels, and on histopathology and biochemical functions of the liver. Rats were raised on experimental diets with three levels of folate (0, 2, 8 mg/kg diet), and 50% ethanol (1.8 ml/kg body weight) was administered intragastically by intubation tubes three times a week for 10 weeks. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were found to be significantly influenced by dietary folate intake and alcohol administration. Among all treatment groups, plasma homocysteine levels were the highest in the animals receiving a combined treatment of folate deficient diet and alcohol administration. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were negatively correlated with folate concentration in the plasma (p<0.01) and liver (p<0.05). Among alcohol treated rats, increase in plasma homocysteine values due to macrovascular and microvascular fatty changes and spotted necrosis were observed more frequently in folate-deficient animals diet than those on folate-adequate and folate supplemented diets in alcohol-treated rats. These results indicate that folate supplementation above the recommended level might be beneficial in the prevention of alcohol-related hyperhomocysteinemia and abnormal histologic changes in the liver.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.1121-1129
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• 1998

The critical role of folate vitamin in the remethylation pathway for methionine synthesis from homocysteine has been well documented. Hyperhomocysteinemia resulting from inadequate folate nutrition has been implicated in increased incidence of macrovascular diseases, colorectal cancer, neural tube defects, etc. Chronic exposure to ethanol impairs folate nutrition and one-carbon metabolism in the liver, which often results in fatty liver due to a defective remethylation process. This study was carried out to investigate the chronic effects of moderate levels of alcohol and dietary 131ate on plasma homocysteine levels, and on histopathology and biochemical functions of the liver Rats were raised on experimental diets with three levels of folate(0, 2, 8mg/kg diet), and 50% ethanol(1.8m1/kg body weight) was administered intragastrically by intubation tubes three times a week for 10 weeks. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were found to be significantly influenced by dietary folate intake and alcohol administration. Among all treatment groups, Plasma homocysteine levels were highest in the animals receiving a combined treatment of folate deficient diet and alcohol administration. Plasma homocysteine concentration was negatively correlated with folate concentration in the plasma(p<0.01) and liver(p<0.05). Among alcohol treated rats, increase in plasma homocysteine values due to ethanol was prevented by 131ate supplementation. When liver histological tests were performed, macrovascular and microvascular fatty changes and spotted necrosis were observed more frequently in folate-deficient animals diet than those on folate-adequate and folate-supplemented diets in alcohol-treated rats. These results indicate that folate supplementation above the recommended level might be beneficial in the prevention of alcohol-related hyperhomocystei-nemia and abnormal histologic changes in the liver due. (Korean J Nutrition 31(7) : l121-l129, 1998)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.708-715
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• 1998

Chronic abuse of alcohol can lead to the development of folate deficiency due to inadequate folate intaike, excessive urinary excretion and from effects of ethanol on folate absorption and metabolism . To investigate the effects of alcohol and folate intake on folate metabolism, the rates were raised for 4 and 10 weeks on experimental diets containing 0, 2 8mg folate/kg diet, and were administered 50% ethanol(1.8$m\ell$/kg body weight) three times a week intragastrically. Plasma and tissue folate concentrations were found to be significantly influenced by dietary folate level. In animals fed on folate-deficient diet, concentrations of folate in the plasma, liver and kidney were decreased by 60-89% compared to those on folate-adequate diet, and ther values were further decreased with experimental period. Folate supplementation increased plasma and tissue folate levels significantly by 16-78% compared to those on folate-adequate diet, and the folate levels in the plasma and liver were affected most by the supplementation. Alcohol administration did not seem to influence folate status in the body significantly when animals were raised on folate-deficient diet. However, when rats were fed folate-adequate or folate-supplemented diet, alcohol was shown to decrease plasma and tissue folate concentrations. Among the animals receiving alcohol, folate concentrations in the plasma and tissues were significantly higher when animals fed folate-supplemented diet compared to folate adequate diet. Alcohol seems to exert differential effects on urinary foalte excretion by experimental period it increased urinary folate in the 4-week period, but lowered foalte excretion in the urine when the experimental period was extended to 10 weeks. Alcohol did not seem to influence folate excretion in the feces. These results indicate that folate supplementation might be beneficial in ameliorating the inadequate folate status that might occur with chronic alcoholism.

• 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.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to assess folate intake, and serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations, and investigate the association between folate status and health-related behaviors among Korean college students. A total of 169 students, aged between 18 and 27 years, participated in this study. Dietary intake data were collected by trained interviewers using a 24-hour recall method for three non-consecutive days in 2009. Information on health-related behaviors was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. Serum and RBC folate concentrations were measured by microbiological assay. The average intakes of folate were $456{\mu}gDFE$ and $347{\mu}gDFE$ in male and female students, respectively. While the average serum folate concentration was significantly lower in male students (8.9 ng/mL) compared to female students (12.5 ng/mL), RBC concentrations were not significantly different between male (398.6 ng/mL) and female students (405.3 ng/mL). In male students, low serum folate concentrations were associated with total folate intake less than the Estimated Average Requirement, non-use of folic acid supplements, smoking, alcohol drinking at least once a week and low physical activity. In female students, low serum folate concentrations were associated with smoking and alcohol drinking at least two drinks at a time and BMI ${\geq}25$. Alcohol drinking and low physical activity were also associated with low RBC folate concentrations in both male and female students. In order to improve folate nutritional status of college students, the practice of desirable health-related behaviors, such as non-smoking, moderate alcohol drinking, regular physical activity, and maintenance of healthy BMI should be encouraged along with consumption of folate-rich foods and supplements.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.493-502
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• 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin B intake on biomarkers related to lipid metabolism, inflammation and blood glucose control, that are important in the development of type 2 diabetes and its complications. Seventy-six adults (42 males, 34 females) were recruited from a group of diabetes patients who had visited the medical center for treatment. Data on anthropometric characteristics and dietary intake of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B₆ and folate were collected using 24-hour diet recall and the CAN Pro 4.0 program. Also, data on clinical indices such as serum lipids, blood pressure, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and homeostasis model assessment 2-insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) were collected and analyzed for correlation with dietary vitamin B intake. Results from the dietary intake survey showed that riboflavin and folate intake (in males) and folate intake (in females) were below the Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans. Statistical analysis revealed a negative correlation between hs-CRP and dietary intake of B vitamins. Riboflavin intake was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure after adjustments for age, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, ingestion of diabetes mellitus medication and energy intake (p<0.05). Our results suggest that dietary vitamin B may influence inflammation and consequently may help in better management of type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.90-100
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• 1999

In order to investigate dietary risk factors for hypertension in th elderly, dietary intakes and dietary habits of 405 elderly subjects, aged 60-94, were assessed by the questionnaire, anthropometric measurement and a 24-hour dietary recall. The prevalence of definite (>95mmHg for diastolic or>160mmHg for systeolic blood pressue) and borderline(90-95mmHg for diastolic or 140-160mmHg for systolic blood pressure) hypertensive subjects 33.3% and 19.3%, respectively. The distribution of the subjects for Body Mass Index(BMI), waist-hip ratio, and alcohol consumption were significantly different among definite, borderline, and normal groups(p<0.05). The distribution of the subjects for smoking, exercise, and preference of salty food were not significantly different among definite, borderline, and normal groups(p>0.05). From the generalized logistic regression analysis of the risk factors for the hypertension, the subjects with over 27 of BMI had significantly higher risk of hypertension. Alcohol consumption and preference of salty food were significant risk factors of hypertension in the elderly. Dietary risk factors for the hypertension that had significant relationship to the hypertension were intakes of potassium, calcium, phosphate, sodium, vitamin B1, niacin, and folate. There was no significant difference of consumption frequencies of food and dish among definite, borderline, and normal groups(p>0.05). The amount of intakes for cereals and grain product, bean and their products, eggs were significantly different among definite, borderline, and normal groups(p<0.05). In summary, the amount of dietary intakes to hypertension in elderly population. Longitudinal studies for dietary risk factors on incidence of hypertension are needed in general population, especially in the elderly.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 1999

This study investigated the differences in dietary intake, age, body mass index(BMI), marital status and education of 1,585 Korean healthy males among current smokers, ex-smokers and non-smokers. Dietary intake was determined by a food frequency questionnaire at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. A bioelectric impedance analyzer measured height, body weight and BMI. This study identified 50% of the study group as current smokers and 30% as ex-smokers and 20% as non-smokers. The mean body mass index was 23.7kg/㎡ and did not differ significantly among the three groups. THe current smokers were younger(44.9 years old) and contained a lower percentage(58.5%) of college graduate than that of ex-smokers or non-smokers. The percentage of non-consumers of meat, eggs, beans and bean products was higher in non-smokers than that of ex-smokers or current smokers. Smoking was to a significant degree positively related to the amount of coffee and alcoholic beverages consumed and negatively related to the amount of milk and milk products and fruits consumed. The intake of eggs, milk and milk products, fruit, coffee, sweets, fats and oils were significantly different among the three groups. after adjusting for age, education level, marital status, and alcohol consumption. There was a strong positive relationship between smoking intensity and the intake of coffee and alcoholic beverages(p<0.0005), and an inverse relationship between smoking intensity and fruit, milk and milk product intake(p<0.005). The current smokers were characterized by a higher intake of total energy and cholesterol, and a lower intake of dietary fibers, ${\beta}$-carotine and folate than those of non-smokers or ex-smokers. The nutrient intake of ex-smokers was moderate and highest in ${\beta}$-carotine and folate, which suggested that ex-smokers were trying to change their life style.