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Results for “FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCY”

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At least 847 records · Page 47Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Reversible malabsorption of folic acid in the elderly with nutritional folate deficiency.

In normal subjects, the folic acid absorption (TRIFA test) was independent of age and sex. Among 53 geriatric patients with nutritional folate deficiency, impaired absorption of folic acid was present in 19 (36%). After treatment with folic acid for 4 weeks, the absorption returned to normal. It is concluded that folate deficiency per se can produce a malabsorption syndrome resulting in further depletion of folate. Protein deficiency and weight loss alone do not impair the absorption of folic acid.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

DNA instability (strand breakage, uracil misincorporation, and defective repair) is increased by folic acid depletion in human lymphocytes in vitro.

Folic acid is essential for the synthesis and repair of DNA. We report the effects of folate depletion on DNA stability in normal human lymphocytes in vitro. DNA strand breakage, uracil misincorporation, oxidative DNA base damage, and DNA repair capability were determined using variants of the comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis). Lymphocyte proliferation was measured as an indicator of normal replication. Lymphocytes isolated from human venous blood were stimulated to grow in either complete medium containing folic acid (1 ng/ml-2 microgram/ml) or medium deficient in folic acid for up to 10 days. Cells prepared for comet analysis were treated either with the bacterial DNA repair enzyme endonuclease III to determine the level of oxidized pyrimidines in lymphocyte DNA or with uracil DNA glycosylase, which detects misincorporated uracil. Cell number and viability were measured. Normal human lymphocyte DNA contained detectable amounts of misincorporated uracil (estimated as approximately 1000 per cell). DNA strand breakage and uracil misincorporation increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner after lymphocytes were cultured with decreasing amounts of folic acid. DNA damage was induced at folic acid concentrations routinely observed in plasma from the human population (1-10 ng/ml). Lymphocytes cultured under folate-deficient conditions failed to grow normally compared with control cells. However, all lymphocytes remained viable as measured by Trypan blue exclusion. Cells deprived of folate were unable to efficiently repair oxidative DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. Inhibition of repair was maximal after 8 days in culture. Folate supply had no effect on the level of oxidized pyrimidines in lymphocyte DNA, even after 10 days in culture, suggesting that folate deficiency increases uracil misincorporation relatively specifically. These in vitro results help to determine the mechanism(s) through which folic acid maintains DNA stability.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Recommendations for accelerating global action to prevent folic acid-preventable birth defects and other folate-deficiency diseases: meeting of experts on preventing folic acid-preventable neural tube defects.

BACKGROUND: In April of 2003, The Micronutrient Initiative, in collaboration with several other organizations, convened a group of knowledgeable scientists and policy experts to discuss ways to accelerate the global pace at which countries implement effective and sustainable programs to prevent folic acid-preventable birth defects and other folate-deficiency diseases. Programs implemented to date by fewer than 40 countries have prevented only 10% of the estimated 240,000 annual cases of folic acid-preventable spina bifida and anencephaly. METHODS: Participants in this meeting summarized and presented scientific evidence showing that increased consumption of synthetic folic acid prevents a large proportion of spina bifida and anencephaly cases. They also reviewed related guidance and endorsement issued by national professional societies and advisory bodies as well as policies and programs implemented by some countries that have already demonstrated successful results in terms of reduced rates of neural tube defects and improved folate nutrition. CONCLUSIONS: The group formulated and discussed recommendations and strategies for increasing the pace of neural tube defect prevention globally. The recommendations and strategies are published here.

Dietary Supplements↗
PubMed1975

Prevention of folate deficiency by food fortification. II. Absorption of folic acid from fortified staple foods.

The absorption of folic acid from maize, rice and bread fortified with pteroylglutamic acid was compared with that of an aqueous solution of pteroylglutamic acid in the same subjects. Feeding fortified maize and rice produced similar increments in folic acid concentration, which were approximately half those observed with the pteroylglutamic acid solution. Fortified bread produced a lower increment. Pteroylglutamic acid was found to resist destruction by boiling and baking at temperatures and times used for the conventional preparation of such foods. However, baking for longer periods resulted in a loss of folic acid activity. It is concluded that fortification of staple foods with folic acid may offer a practical adjunct to nutritional programs designed to improve the intake of essential nutrients.

Absorption↗