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Results for “Serum Folate Level”

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PubMed1995

Chemoprevention of cervical cancer with folic acid: a phase III Southwest Oncology Group Intergroup study.

Several epidemiological reports and experimental investigations have suggested a preventive role for folic acid in the etiology of cervical cancer. The effect of p.o. folic acid supplementation on the natural history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was evaluated in a multiinstitutional prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Three hundred thirty-one women with biopsy-proven koilocytic atypia, mild CIN, or moderate CIN were randomized to receive oral folic acid (5 mg) or a similar-appearing placebo daily for 6 months following a 1-month run-in placebo period. Colposcopy, Papanicolaou smear, and serum vitamin levels (folate, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, and retinyl palmitate) were monitored every 3 months. Demographic, medical, dietary, and sexual history data were obtained from personal interviews. The primary end point of the study was improvement in both Papanicolaou smear and colposcopic picture after 3 and 6 months of treatment as compared to the start of treatment. After 6 months of treatment there was no significant difference between the two study groups in the percentage of patients improved. Median serum folate levels in the treatment arm at 3 and 6 months (29.0 and 20.0 micrograms/dl) were significantly higher than those in the placebo arm (7.8 and 7.1 micrograms/dl, respectively). Mean serum levels of retinol, retinyl palmitate, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene did not differ significantly between the two treatment arms. Our data support the conclusion that supplementation with folic acid (5 mg/day) does not enhance the regression of early epithelial abnormalities of the cervix.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2000

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II: a polymorphism associated with lower levels of serum folate and hyperhomocysteinemia.

Low blood folate levels result in hyperhomocysteinemia, which has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects and cognitive deficits. Intake of dietary folates is the chief determinant of blood folate levels. Molecular defects in the intestinal absorption of dietary folates that precipitate low blood folate levels and hyperhomocysteinemia have not been investigated previously. Dietary folates are a mixture of polyglutamylated folates which are digested to monoglutamyl folates by the action of folylpoly-gamma-glutamate carboxypeptidase (FGCP), an enzyme that is anchored to the intestinal brush border membrane and is expressed by the glutamate carboxypepidase II (GCPII) gene. We cloned GCPII cDNA from human intestine and identified both a full-length transcript and a 93 bp shorter transcript lacking exon 18, consistent with the presence of a splice variant. In addition, we identified an H475Y polymorphism in GCPII in DNA samples from a healthy Caucasian population (n = 75). We found that membranes of transfected COS-7 cells expressing the H475Y variant GCPII cDNA had 53% less FGCP activity than did cells expressing wild-type GCPII. The presence of the H475Y GCPII allele was significantly associated with lower folate and higher homocysteine levels in this population. These data suggest that the presence of the H475Y GCPII allele impairs the intestinal absorption of dietary folates, resulting in relatively low blood folate levels and consequent hyperhomocysteinemia.

Aged↗
PubMed1972

Effect of vegetarianism and smoking on vitamin B12, thiocyanate, and folate levels in the blood of normal subjects.

Vitamin B(12), thiocyanate, and folate levels in the blood were estimated in 69 apparently normal subjects, of whom 26 were non-vegetarian non-smokers, 19 non-vegetarian smokers, 15 vegetarian non-smokers, and nine vegetarian smokers. The serum total (cyanide-extracted) B(12) level (value A) ranged from 105 to 728 pg/ml, with a mean of 292 pg/ml. The highest values were found in non-vegetarian non-smokers and the lowest in vegetarian smokers. There was no significant difference in value A between smokers as a group and non-smokers as a group. On the other hand, in vegetarians value A was very significantly lower than in non-vegetarians regardless of their smoking habits.It is suggested that A may represent both the protein-bound and free forms of vitamin B(12) in the blood, and B mainly the free B(12), which may be the physiologically active form. The plasma thiocyanate level varied from 1.0 to 15 mumol/100 ml, being, as expected, much higher in smokers (mean 8.20 mumol/100 ml) than in non-smokers (mean 2.02 mumol/100 ml). There was a rough correlation between falling B(12) levels and rising thiocyanate levels. The serum folate level ranged from 2.75 to 15.75 ng/ml, and was slightly but significantly higher in vegetarians (mean 6.60 ng/ml) than in non-vegetarians (mean 4.79 ng/ml), reflecting the greater content of folate in a vegetarian diet.

Cyanides↗
PubMed1999

Epidemiologic correlates of serum folate and homocysteine levels among users and non-users of vitamin supplement.

Lower serum folate and higher serum homocysteine levels are known risk factors for various conditions. Thus, epidemiologic correlates with these measurements were studied for 256 multivitamin users and 230 non-users who were middle-aged women. Both serum folate and homocysteine levels increased with advancing age in both multivitamin users (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01) and non-users (P = 0.08 and P < 0.01). Among non-users, higher intake of vegetables, fruits, cold cereals and total protein were associated positively with serum folate and inversely with homocysteine levels. There were 25-74% increases in serum folate and 10-15% decreases in serum homocysteine between 1st and 4th quartiles of intake of these food/nutrients. In addition, 26% lower serum folate and 18% higher serum homocysteine were observed for those smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day compared with non-smokers. Among multivitamin users, body weight was correlated inversely with serum folate (P < 0.01) and positively with serum homocysteine levels (P = 0.04), while no correlates were found among lifestyle factors. Regular use of multivitamins increased serum folate about fourfold and decreased homocysteine twofold. These results suggest that multivitamin use can offset the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle on these serum markers, and that levels of serum folate and homocysteine can also be favorably influenced by healthier diet and abstinence from smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Folate concentration in Chinese psychiatric outpatients on long-term lithium treatment.

Among 46 Chinese and mostly manic-depressive (85%) outpatients attending a lithium clinic in Hong Kong, virtually no patients had low serum (0%) or erythrocyte (2%) folate. Their mean folate levels did not differ from lithium-free outpatients. Although serum folate correlated negatively with lithium dose (P less than 0.002) and serum level (P less than 0.01), lithium treatment probably did not by itself cause low folate. Folate level was not related to diagnosis, duration of mental illness, other drug usage or spot affective morbidity. Patients with a good response to lithium in the previous one year had a higher mean serum folate level than those with unsatisfactory response (P less than 0.05). These data suggest that folate deficiency is uncommon among Chinese psychiatric outpatients, but support recent evidence that folate at high concentrations enhances lithium prophylaxis.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1977

Geriatric mental function and serum folate: a review and survey.

A review of the growing body of information regarding folic acid biochemistry indicates a relationship between folate metabolism and mental disturbance. Clinical correlations between altered mental functions associated with aging and lowered serum folate values are found to suggest that further studies are warranted. The fasting serum folate levels of two groups of subjects 65 years of age and older are compared after excluding the influence of drugs, alcohol, and gastrointestinal disease. The results show that those elderly persons with good dietary habits and mental acuity had no lowered serum folate levels. Thus, the suggestion that serum folate level normally falls with age is not confirmed. Additionally, it was found that 35% of similarly aged subjects with combined mental dysfunction and poor dietary habits had lowered serum folate values.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Reported symptoms and clinical findings in relation to serum cobalamin, folate, methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine among elderly Swedes: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The early stages of tissue B12 or folate deficiency often cause diagnostic problems. In this report, the levels of serum cobalamin, folate, methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy), and their relationships with clinical findings and reported symptoms in a representative random population sample are presented. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: A general central Swedish population 70 years or older. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A 20% random sample of persons 70 years or older in a defined geographical area were invited to a survey. A total of 235 (85%) persons responded, of whom 161 had no interfering diseases or medication. Blood specimens for serum cobalamin, folate, MMA and tHcy analyses were drawn. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of anaemic, gastrointestinal, neurological and psychiatric symptoms, obtained by questionnaire, and vibration sense measurement and findings at a physical and Mini Mental State Examination. RESULTS: Among a large number of symptoms and clinical findings that traditionally have been linked to vitamin B12 or folate tissue deficiency, only changes in the tongue mucosa and mouth angle stomatitis turned out to be significantly associated with abnormal serum tHcy and serum folate levels. There were no relationships to serum cobalamin and serum MMA. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the oral mucosa were the only signs and symptoms found in this study, indicating that these may be the very early markers of metabolic defects. The traditional symptoms of vitamin deficiency may appear later in the course.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Folate status and folate related anemia: a comparative cross-sectional study of long-term care and post-acute care psychogeriatric patients.

Aging is associated with increased risk of anemia, poor nutrition, chronic illness, and impaired folate status. We aimed to investigate and compare folate status in long-term care psychogeriatric patients (LTCPP) and in post-acute care psychogeriatric patients (PACPP). This is a cross-sectional study conducted in a psychogeriatric medical center with long-term care and post-acute care wards. A total number of 553 LTCPP and 373 PACPP were studied. Low serum folic acid levels were found in 10% of LTCPP and in 13% of PACPP. Folic acid anemia (FAA) was found in 67% of LTCPP and 87% of PACPP (P = 0.046) with low serum folate levels. Mean levels of serum folate were similar but red blood cells folate (RBC-folate) was higher in PACPP (P = 0.025) and in males compared with women (P = 0.009). 56% of PACPP and 68% of LTCPP who had folic acid anemia presented with another type of anemia. Anemia of chronic disease was the most frequent coexisting anemia and was found in 65% of LTCPP and 52% of PACPP, followed by B12 deficiency anemia and iron deficiency anemia. We conclude that PACPP represent only a slightly different group, compared with LTCPP, with regard to the folate status. These high rates of folate and RBC-folate deficiencies, as well as of FAA and coexisting anemia, call for a routine evaluation of folate status in all psychogeriatric patients, whether LTCPP or PACPP.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

[Blood folates in chronic uremic patients in dialysis treatment].

The authors, after having reviewed folic acid and folates chemical and biochemical characteristics and their absorption and excretion modalities, determine serum folate levels by radioassay method on 30 patients with renal failure in chronic dialysis and on 24 normal controls. Low serum folate levels concerned 14 uremic patients (46.6% of th cases): 10 in hemodialysis and 4 in peritoneal dialysis. The mean serum folate values was 3.31 ng/ml (+/- 1.93) for the uremic patients' group and 4.29 ng/ml (+/- 1.21) for the control group. The difference between the mean level of these groups was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). No significant difference was observed among the mean serum folate levels of the uremic patients in peritoneal dialysis and of those in hemodialysis. Significantly low serum folate levels were finally found for the uremic HBsAg-positive patients, but in the same subjects the dialytic treatment period had been very prolonged. The authors conclude emphasizing the usefulness of folic acid treatment in uremic patients on dialysis, also without having an evident hematologic picture of megaloblastic anemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Bird-fancier's lung and jejunal villous atrophy.

Sixteen patients with bird-fancier's lung were screened for evidence of coeliac disease by assessing their clinical features, red-bloodcell or serum folate levels, and serum for reticulin antibodies. Five of nine patients selected for jejunal biopsy showed villous atrophy, and in some this seemed to be a true gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Nutritional effects of oral contraceptive use: a review.

Oral contraceptives agents (OCA) have been in use for more than two decades, and at the present time, 150 to 200 million women are using the preparations. Apart from their gynecologic influence, the hormones have been shown to affect a number of metabolic and nutritional processes, some advantageously and others disadvantageously. Concern over the nutritional status of females consuming OCA prompted this review. Eight vitamins and three minerals were investigated. Contraceptive steroid ingestion was shown to depress the physiologic levels of six nutrients (riboflavin, pyridoxine, folacin, vitamin B12, ascorbic acid and zinc), elevate the levels of three others (vitamin K, iron and copper) and provide little or no change in one (alpha tocopherol) and questionable increases in another (vitamin A). It was concluded that females consuming OCA should pay particular attention to vitamin and mineral intake and, if warranted, consume physiologic supplements of needed nutrients.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Folate absorption in Crohn's disease.

An oral folate absorption test was performed in 100 consecutive patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 20 healthy individuals to investigate the frequency of abnormal folate absorption in regard to the site of the disease and to investigate the possibility of defining a subgroup of patients requiring parenteral folate supplementation. The described oral folate absorption test can be performed quickly on an outpatient basis and is capable of distinguishing patients with altered folate absorption from those with normal folate absorption. In 25 patients, abnormal folate absorption was detected. 16 patients showed impaired folate absorption as indicated by a marked but insufficient increase in serum folate levels after oral folate intake, whereas no increase of the serum folate levels was detected in the remaining 9 patients. Abnormal folate absorption was not correlated with disease extent or activity. In patients with only impaired folate absorption, it might be sufficient to increase dietary intake of folates. In the remaining patients with no measurable increase of serum folate levels after oral folate intake, i.e. about 10% of all patients with CD, parenteral folate supplementation could be considered.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1981

Levels of serum ferritin, folate, and vitamin B12 in pregnant women at term who had been supplemented with iron and folate.

The levels of serum ferritin, folates, and vitamin B12 in relation to the hematologic values were measured in 66 pregnant women at term who had been supplemented with iron (100 mg/day) and folate (350 microgram/day). The levels of hemoglobin in pregnant women were similar to the controls;' however, levels of ferritin and transferrin saturation were decreased and showed a correlation with the hemoglobin. The MCV increased, whereas folate and vitamin B12 decreased, but no correlation was found between these values. These results suggest that in pregnant women (a) serum ferritin and transferrin saturation reflect the iron available for erythropoiesis, (b) the iron supplementation of 100 mg/day in the population studied is not sufficient, and (c) the macrocytosis is independent of the folate and vitamin B12 levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Interpretation of serum and red cell folate results. A comparison of microbiological and radioisotopic methods.

Serum folate and red blood cell folate levels were measured in 167 patients using a microbiological method (Lactobacillus casei) and a commercial 125I radioassay kit. The results of the two methods were compared and related to the clinical findings to see which method more truly reflected the physiological folate status of the patient. There was a good linear correlation between the methods for both serum folate and red cell folate over the whole range encountered and the mean results obtained with each method were nearly identical. Both methods seemed to perform equally well in distinguishing low serum folate levels, but when the red cell folate results were compared to the clinical and other laboratory findings, the radioassay more closely related to the folate status of the patient. The study again emphasized the high number of low serum folate levels found in hospital patients and the importance of measuring the red cell folate.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed2006

Do racial and ethnic differences in serum folate values exist after food fortification with folic acid?

OBJECTIVE: The United States food supply has been fortified with folic acid since 1998. Information about folate levels early in pregnancy before the fortification is limited. This study examined the associations between serum folate at first prenatal visit and maternal race/ethnicity, age, vitamin use, and body mass index. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study assessed serum folate levels among 9421 women who entered prenatal care in 1999 and 2000 in southern California. Information on race/ethnicity, vitamin use, weight, height, and age was obtained from surveys and birth certificates. RESULTS: After adjustment for vitamin use, the strongest predictor of serum folate level, being in the lowest folate quartile (< or = 16 ng/mL) was related independently to being of black, Hispanic, or Asian/Pacific Islander race/ethnicity, being younger age, and being overweight or obese. CONCLUSION: After food fortification with folic acid, differences in serum folate values in pregnant women by maternal race/ethnicity, age, and body mass index persisted.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Effects of multivitamin and folic acid supplementation in malnourished children.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of multivitamin and folic acid supplementation on serum folate level and weight gain. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in malnourished children at the Nutrition Clinic, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health from February to June 2000. History taking, weight-height measurement, and blood testing for complete blood count (CBC) and serum folate level were done. Patients were randomly by assigned into 2 groups. The study group was supplemented daily with multivitamins (MVD) along with a folic acid tablet while the control group was supplemented daily with MVD only, for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-nine malnourished children were enrolled in the present study. They were randomly by assigned into 2 groups, 14 children in the study group and 15 children in the control group. There were 11 boys (38%) and 18 girls (62%). Mean age was 36.3 months. Anemia and low serum folate level were found in 24 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. There was no significant difference in the data of both groups, except that anemia was more common in the study group (p = 0.018). After 6 weeks of supplementation, increases in weight and serum folate level were significantly higher in the study group, but there was no significant difference in weight increased between both groups. CONCLUSION: Folate deficiency may be found in malnourished children. Efficacy of folic acid supplement is good. Folic acid needs to be supplemented in malnourished children.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutations as risk factors for sudden hearing loss.

Sudden hearing loss (SHL) can be caused by vascular disorders favoring impaired cochlear perfusion. Several inherited prothrombotic risk factors have been considered in the pathogenesis of vascular impairment, and the possible role of genetic alterations has recently been suggested. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutations at nucleotides 677 and 1298 cause reduced MTHFR enzyme activity, which leads to increased homocysteine and reduced serum folate levels that are known to be involved in vascular impairment. We studied the relationship between SHL and MTHFR C677T and A1298C gene polymorphisms in 67 patients with SHL and 134 controls. Wild-type MTHFR CC677/AA1298 was significantly more frequent in the controls (P = .05), and gene mutations were significantly more frequent in the patients (P = .001; P = .001 for trend). Fifty-three patients (79.1%) and 56 controls (41.8%) (P = .012) had a double mutation (homozygosis 677TT or 1298CC; compound heterozygosis for both polymorphisms). Homocysteine levels were significantly higher and serum folate levels significantly lower in the patients than in the controls (P < .0001). These data suggest that MTHFR gene polymorphisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of SHL.

Adult↗