SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Serum Folate Level”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Interplay between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism 677C-->T and serum folate levels in determining hyperhomocysteinemia in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Homocysteine metabolism is often impaired in heart transplant recipients, and increased total homocysteine plasma levels may constitute a risk factor for the development of heart allograft vascular disease. Although 677C-->T transition in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is associated with increased homocysteine levels in the general population, it is unclear whether MTHFR polymorphism influences homocysteine metabolism after heart transplant. METHODS: Homocysteine, serum folate, renal function, concentrations of cyclosporine and its metabolites, and MTHFR genotype were determined in 57 heart transplant recipients (age, 55 +/- 11 yr; 21% women; time from transplant, 48 +/- 42 months). RESULTS: Forty nine percent of the study population presented with hyperhomocysteinemia. Homocysteine was 17.1 +/- 5.9 micromol/liter, 19.4 +/- 4.9 micromol/liter, and 26.3 +/- 14.2 micromol/liter for genotypes CC, CT, and TT, respectively (p = 0.028, Kruskal-Wallis test). At multivariate analysis, MTHFR genotype was independently associated with homocysteine (p = 0.005). When the study population was divided into 2 groups accordingly to serum folate levels (above/below the median value of 6.1 ng/ml), MTHFR genotype remained a significant predictor of homocysteine only in patients with low serum folate (p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that hyperhomocysteinemia is frequent in heart transplant recipients and that the 677C-->T transition in the MTHFR gene independently and unfavorably influences homocysteine metabolism in this group of patients. Adequate folate intake may overcome genetic predisposition to hyperhomocysteinemia.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Red-cell and serum folate levels in depressed inpatients who commit violent suicide: a comparison with control groups.

There has been some discussion in the recent literature regarding the possible relationship between peripheral levels of folate and serotonin deficiency in the CNS. At the same time, such a serotonin deficiency has been implicated in the biology of suicidal behavior. Thus, decreased peripheral folate levels may be expected in patients who commit violent suicide. In this study, the red-cell and serum folate levels in nine persons who later committed suicide are compared with those in age- and sex-matched control groups. A one-way analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the groups.

Adult↗

PubMed1978

Haematological profile in leprosy. Part II--Relationship to severity of disease and treament status.

321 adult male lepromatous leprosy patients were studied for relationship between haematological findings, severity of disease and duration of treatment. Significant changes were noticed in relation in haemoglobin concentration, serum vitamin B12 and serum folate levels, serum albumin and globulin. No significant changes were observed in serum iron levels in relation to disease and treatment status. With rising bacterial load, there was a trend towards lower haemoglobin concentration, higher vitamin B12 level and lowered serum folate levels. Serum albumin showed a significant decline, while serum globulin showed a significant rise. The findings are discussed in relation to replacement of bone marrow by lepromatous tissue as well as possible interference in the metabolism of haematinics by M. leprae. The exact mechanism of neurlogical deficit in leprosy in relation to deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid need to be further elucidated.

Folic Acid↗

PubMed2006

Baseline serum folate level may be a predictive factor of weight loss in a morbid-obesity-management programme.

Prompt identification of responders to non-surgical therapy is of utmost importance in attempting medical treatment in patients with clinically severe obesity before indication of bariatric surgery. The objectives of the present study were to assess the outcome at 1 year of morbidly obese patients undergoing a weight-loss medical programme and to detect baseline predictors of a loss >or=10 % of initial weight at the end of the follow-up. A longitudinal, prospective study of a cohort of morbidly obese patients (n 182; females 78 %; age 40.5 (SD 11.5) years; BMI 45.4 (SD 6.0) kg/m(2)) enrolled in a 1-year obesity-management programme based on lifestyle changes and pharmacological therapy. Significant laboratory and clinical variables were included in a binary logistic regression model in order to identify baseline independent factors for the prediction of a successful outcome in the programme. At 12 months of follow-up, twenty-one subjects (11.5 % of the initial cohort) had lost >or=10 % of baseline weight. A high serum folic acid level was the only independent predictor of weight loss at 1 year. A rise of 1 ng/ml in serum folate increased the chance of success by 28 % (adjusted odds ratio 1.28; 95 % CI 1.04, 1.58). We concluded that a medical-management programme of morbid obesity obtained limited results at 1 year, in agreement with other intervention studies. Serum folate may be useful as a pre-treatment predictor of response to a medical-management programme in patients with morbid obesity. Patients with low basal serum folate levels probably should be urged to change unhealthy eating patterns.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Folic acid supplements are more effective than increased dietary folate intake in elevating serum folate levels.

In 1992, recommendations were disseminated aimed at reducing the incidence of neural tube defects. Women were advised to increase consumption of folic acid supplements and dietary folates during the periconceptional period and a major integrated national campaign was launched to help achieve this. In this study we found that only one-quarter of the women with an uncomplicated obstetric history and 51% with a complicated obstetric history took supplements for the recommended time period. Dietary modification was extremely unusual. Serum analysis demonstrated that intake of folic acid supplements provides a greater elevation in serum folate levels than dietary food intake, suggesting dietary manipulation is an ineffective strategy and that efforts would be better focused on increasing supplement intake at a clinically important time. More effective education strategies are required, and since approximately one-third of pregnancies are unplanned, fortification of foods with folic acid is warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Thromboplastin-thrombomodulin-mediated time and serum folate levels are genetically correlated with the risk of thromboembolic disease: results from the GAIT project.

The GAIT (Genetic Analysis of Idiopathic Thrombophilia) Project is a family-based study dedicated to elucidating the genetic basis of hemostasis-related phenotypes and thrombosis risk. In this paper, we have examined several lesser-studied hemostasis-related phenotypes in the 21 GAIT families: levels of vitamin B 12, serum folate, whole blood folate, alpha2-antiplasmin, prekallikrein, beta2-glycoprotein I, soluble P-selectin, factor XIII A and B subunits and a new coagulation measurement based on thromboplastin time in the presence or absence of thrombomodulin. Using the variance component method, we estimated the relative contributions of genetic and environmental influences on these phenotypes. In addition, we calculated the genetic correlations between thrombosis risk and each of these phenotypes. All 12 phenotypes showed significant genetic contributions with genes accounting for 22% to 78% of the variance after correction for covariate effects. Four phenotypes (three traits involving thromboplastin-thrombomodulin mediated coagulation time and serum folate) exhibited significant genetic correlations with thrombosis. Thus, some of the genes that influence quantitative variation in these physiological phenotypes also influence the risk of thrombosis. The high heritabilities and significant genetic correlations between thrombosis and some risk factors suggest that joint consideration of correlated quantitative phenotypes will aid in identifying susceptibility genes.

Adult↗

PubMed1964

Folic acid clearances and basal serum folate levels in patients with thyroid disease.

The plasma clearance of intravenously administered folic acid was abnormally rapid in all of five patients studied with untreated hyperthyroidism; in three, the basal serum L. casei folate level was subnormal. Four of these patients and another patient were studied at various intervals after partial or complete correction of the hyperthyroid state. Partial correction resulted in a continued fast clearance in one patient, a return to borderline-normal values in the second, and a normal clearance in the third. Complete euthyroidism was achieved in two patients; their clearance values had returned to borderline-normal at this time. In two patients studied after partial correction, the serum L. casei folate levels had become normal whereas the clearance values remained abnormally rapid. These findings suggest that hyperthyroidism in man is associated with depletion of folate stores and subclinical deficiency of this vitamin. This is attributed to an increased demand for folic acid in the hypermetabolic state.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1991

A case-control study of serum folate levels and invasive cervical cancer.

Although small intervention trials have suggested that folate supplementation reduces cervical dysplasia, the association of blood folate concentrations with invasive cervical cancer risk has not been investigated in well-controlled epidemiological studies. A study was conducted with newly diagnosed Stage I and II invasive cervical cancer cases and controls in 4 Latin American countries. Ninety-five% of subjects donated blood samples, resulting in 330 case and 565 control serum samples analyzed for folate concentrations by radioassay. Cases did not differ significantly from controls in mean levels of folate (5.00 and 4.90 ng/ml, respectively). No associations were observed between quartiles of serum folate and risk of cervical cancer after adjustment for other risk factors, and no interactions with established risk factors were observed. Folate levels were also unrelated to risk among women who might have compromised folate status because of recent or extended oral contraceptive usage or multiple pregnancies. Further, mean levels of folate were similar by stage of disease, arguing against an effect of disease progression on serum values. These results do not support a role for serum folate in the etiology of invasive cervical cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2000

Split sample analysis of serum folate levels after 18 days in frozen storage.

Reliable measurement of folate is becoming increasingly important as links between dietary folate intake, the use of vitamins containing folic acid, and health outcomes such as birth defects and cardiovascular disease are identified. This study was undertaken to formally assess whether the quantity of folate in serum declines after the serum is frozen and stored. Blood samples from 83 pregnant women were tested for serum folate shortly after collection and again after 18 days of storage at -20 degrees C. A shift from higher to lower serum folate categories was observed after 18 days of storage. For the first test, 40.9 % of the samples were > or = 20 microg/L compared with 19.3 % of the test results on second test. For the 75 samples in the quantifiable range (< 40 microg/L), a mean decrease of 5.0 microg/L (+/- 0.5) of serum folate was observed (p < 0.0001). When compared to serum samples stored in a non frost-free freezer at -20 degrees C or -70 degrees C, serum stored in a frost-free freezer at -20 degrees C for even a short period of time may be relatively unstable and sensitive to minor temperature fluctuations associated with the freeze-thaw cycles.

Adult↗

PubMed1968