Clinical Chemistry of Folic Acid

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the clinical chemistry of folic acid. In the past decade, vitamin was known by various names such as vitamin Bc, folic acid, vitamin M, and pteroylglutamic acid. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry have ruled that pteroylglutamic acid should be used to describe the pure substance and that folic acid may be used as the generic term. In fact, the term “folic acid’ is now used for so long and is so widely understood that it can be difficult to change it. Folate deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiency states seen in clinical practice and is particularly prevalent among people in the lower socioeconomic groups. The hematological abnormalities resulting from folate deficiency are indistinguishable from those associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency may result in neurological changes; however, a suboptimal intake of folate is associated with a generalized disorder of cellular metabolism. The active coenzyme forms of folic acid are polyglutamates with four and six glutamic acid residues—the majority being in the form of a pentaglutamate. The glutamic acid chain is required to bind the coenzyme to the apoprotein. In man, animals, protozoa, and some bacteria, tetrahydrofolic acid is the active coenzyme form of the vitamin. The chapter also describes the nutritional value of folate, inborn errors related to the metabolism, and impact of folate deficiency in human body.