An effective restoration of one-carbon metabolism in folate-deficient mice with a high-folate corn inbred line

Abstract

• Folate-supplementation restored folate deficiency status in 4 weeks. • Restoration effect varies depending on different FA sources. • Orderly phospholipid metabolism implies a healthy status under FHC supplementation. Since folic acid (FA) was officially recommended in 1998, concerns have emerged about the effect of excess FA intake, in particular with respect to negative clinical effects. Given this, a high-folate corn inbred line that we identified from a global germplasm collection was believed to become a valid alternative to FA supplementation. In this study, we proved this natural form of plant-sourced folates exhibited an effective restoration of folate deficiency. Folate metabolism and methylation modifications were restored in folate-deficient mice with folate-supplemented diets in 4 weeks. Restoration effects varies depending on folate sources, restricted retrotransposon activity and an orderly pattern of phospholipid/lipid metabolism protected by this high-folate corn partly ensures a healthy folate status for development. Totally, we proved in mice models that this kind of folate biofortification corn could provide a valid alternation of FA supplementation in alleviation of folate deficiency during pregnancy.