Dietary Folate Research Articles

Dietary folate drives methionine metabolism to promote cancer development by stabilizing MAT IIA

Folic acid, served as dietary supplement, is closely linked to one-carbon metabolism and methionine metabolism. Previous clinical evidence indicated that folic acid supplementation displays dual effect on cancer development, promoting or suppressing tumor formation and progression. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be uncovered. Here, we report that high-folate diet significantly promotes cancer development in mice with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by DEN/high-fat diet (HFD), simultaneously with increased expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (gene name, MAT2A; protein name, MATIIα), the key enzyme in methionine metabolism, and acceleration of methionine cycle in cancer tissues. In contrast, folate-free diet reduces MATIIα expression and impedes HFD-induced HCC development. Notably, methionine metabolism is dynamically reprogrammed with valosin-containing protein p97/p47 complex-interacting protein (VCIP135) which functions as a deubiquitylating enzyme to bind and stabilize MATIIα in response to folic acid signal. Consistently, upregulation of MATIIα expression is positively correlated with increased VCIP135 protein level in human HCC tissues compared to adjacent tissues. Furthermore, liver-specific knockout of Mat2a remarkably abolishes the advocating effect of folic acid on HFD-induced HCC, demonstrating that the effect of high or free folate-diet on HFD-induced HCC relies on Mat2a. Moreover, folate and multiple intermediate metabolites in one-carbon metabolism are significantly decreased in vivo and in vitro upon Mat2a deletion. Together, folate promotes the integration of methionine and one-carbon metabolism, contributing to HCC development via hijacking MATIIα metabolic pathway. This study provides insight into folate-promoted cancer development, strongly recommending the tailor-made folate supplement guideline for both sub-healthy populations and patients with cancer expressing high level of MATIIα expression.

Repurposing benzbromarone as antifolate to develop novel antifungal therapy for Candida albicans.

Fungal infections in humans are responsible for mild to severe infections resulting in systemic effects that cause a large amount of mortality. Invasive fungal infections are having similar symptomatic effects to those of COVID-19. The COVID-19 patients are immunocompromised in nature and have a high probability of developing severe fungal infections, resulting in the development of further complications. The existing antifungal therapy has associated problems related to the development of drug resistance, being sub-potent in nature, and the presence of undesirable toxic effects. The fungal dihydrofolate reductase is an essential enzyme involved in the absorption of dietary folic acid and its conversion into tetrahydrofolate, which is a coenzyme required for the biosynthesis of the fungal nucleotides. Thus, in the current study, an attempt has been made to identify potential folate inhibitors of Candida albicans by a computational drug repurposing approach. Based upon the molecular docking simulation-based virtual screening followed by the molecular dynamic simulation of the macromolecular complex, benzbromarone has been identified as a potential anti-folate agent for the development of a novel therapy for the treatment of candidiasis.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00894-022-05185-w.

Impact of lockdown on changes in lifestyle, including changes in consumtion of selected groups of food products among the inhabitatns in the Mazowieckie Region.

The aim of the study was to assess the lifestyle of a selected group of inhabitants of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship before the pandemic and to analyse the impact of lockdown on changes in lifestyle, including changes in the consumption of selected food products that are a source of vitamins and minerals. In August 2020, a survey was conducted based on a proprietary questionnaire. It was shown that during the lockdown period, 24.7% of women and 27.1% of men made changes in their lives. The changes concerned working hours, nature of work, hours of sleep, number of meals consumed and diet. The analysis of the diet showed a decrease in the consumption of vegetables, fruits and legumes in some respondents, which, with low frequency of consumption, may lead to a deficiency of dietary fibre, vitamin C, folic acid, polyphenols and potassium. The consumption of fish, spreadable fats, salt, sugar and drinks was not compliant with the recommendations of healthy eating. Public education about healthy lifestyles is essential to prevent complications from COVID-19.

Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation, Dietary Folate Intake, and Low Birth Weight: A Birth Cohort Study.

ObjectivesTo investigate the independent and collective effects of maternal folic acid supplementation or dietary folate intake on the risk of low birth weight (LBW), and to further comprehensively examine the joint associations of folic acid supplementation and dietary folate intake with LBW by various clinical subtypes.DesignParticipants were recruited from Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital. A standardized and structured questionnaire was distributed to collect demographic factors, reproductive and medical history, occupational and residential history, physical activity, and diet. Data on pregnancy-related complications and birth outcomes were extracted from medical records. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for single and joint associations of folic acid supplementation and dietary folate intake with LBW.SettingA birth cohort data analysis using the 2010–2012 Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital in Lanzhou, China.ParticipantsIn total, 9,231 pregnant women and their children were enrolled in the study.ResultsCompared with non-users, folic acid supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of LBW (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.66–0.97), and the reduced risk was mainly seen for term-LBW (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41–0.85), and multiparous-LBW (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54–0.94). There were no significant associations between dietary folate intake and LBW, and there was no interaction between folic acid supplement and dietary folate intake on LBW.ConclusionsOur study results indicated that folic acid supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of LBW, and there was no interaction between folic acid supplements and dietary folate intake on LBW.

Infant Temperament: Exploring The Potential Role of Maternal Dietary Choline and Folate Consumption During Pregnancy in a Michigan Pregnancy Cohort

ObjectivesCholine and folate are important nutrients involved in fetal brain development, but relationships between diet and infant temperament—an outcome potentially related to neurobehavioral development—have not been widely explored. Our objective was to examine associations between maternal dietary choline and folate intake during pregnancy and infant temperament assessed at 9 months.MethodsParticipants from the Michigan Archive for Research on Child Health (MARCH) prospective pregnancy cohort were included in this analysis (n = 89, mean age [SD] = 30.4 ± 5.5 y). Maternal dietary intake was assessed in mid-pregnancy with the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24). Infant temperament was assessed by parent report using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Very Short Form (IBQ-VSF) at the infant 9-month visit (range 8–16 months; mean [SD] 287 ± 31 days after birth). Participants were included if they had data from at least one ASA24 and the IBQ-VSF assessment. Where applicable, the average of two ASA24s was used (n = 45). For twins, infant data was randomly selected to include only one twin (n = 2 mother-child pairs). Independent t-tests were used to assess mean differences in nutrient intake by maternal sociodemographic characteristics. Pearson correlations were used to examine relationships between maternal nutrient consumption and infant temperament scores.ResultsNeither folate nor choline intake differed significantly by maternal age, education, marital status, or income. Choline intake varied by work status (418.76 ± 197.01 mg [not working/part-time] vs. 337.70 ± 150.34 mg [full-time], p = 0.033). Maternal choline intake was related to infant Positive Affect/Surgency, r = 0.213, p = 0.045; when data were limited to the subset with two ASA24s (n = 45), the relationship was no longer significant r = 0.262, p = 0.083. No significant relationships between maternal folate intake and infant temperament were observed.ConclusionsPregnancy dietary folate was not associated with parent-reported temperament at 9 months, but we observed an association between pregnancy dietary choline and Positive Affect/Surgency in infants. In addition to replicating these findings, more research is needed to examine the plausibility of associations reported here.Funding SourcesFunded in part by a grant from the NIH ECHO program.

Preparation and characterization of folate-enriched eggs and egg yolk powders

In this study, a dose-response relationship between egg folate content and dietary folic acid content was observed. Folic acid supplementation did not affect egg quality or the performance of laying hens besides feed intake and feed/egg ratio. Vitamin C supplementation (150 mg/kg) promoted folate enrichment in the eggs, with a maximum value of 78 μg/egg being achieved. Moreover, there was no obvious effect on egg quality and an improvement in laying performance. Vitamin B12 supplementation did not affect egg folate content, suggesting there was already enough present in the original diet. The folate in eggs was relatively stable to degradation during storage, which was attributed to the protection provided by egg whites and eggshells. A folate-enriched egg yolk powder (803 μg/100 g) was prepared through spray drying in a nitrogen atmosphere. This powder was yellower, redder, and darker than one produced by spray drying in air and exhibited better storage stability. However, both powders exhibited similar water solubility and emulsifying properties. These results suggest that folate-enriched eggs and egg yolk powder could be used as functional foods for folate supplementation.

Association of Plasma Folate, Vitamin B12, and Betaine With Total Homocysteine in Pregnancy, and Effect Modification Due to Folic Acid Versus Natural Folate Supplementation

ObjectivesElevated circulating total homocysteine (tHcy) is associated with numerous pregnancy complications. Determinants of circulating tHcy include folate, vitamin B12, and betaine status, which catalyze the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. In countries with folic acid food fortification, vitamin B12 and betaine are reported as stronger predictors of tHcy than folate. We evaluated the association between plasma folate, vitamin B12, and betaine with plasma tHcy in pregnancy, and any effect modification due to supplementation with folic acid versus 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (natural folate; 5-MTHF).MethodsPregnant women (n = 60) in Vancouver, BC, were randomized to 0.6 mg folic acid or 5-MTHF for 16 weeks, starting at 8–21 weeks gestation. Dietary folate intake was recorded at baseline. A 3-hour fasting blood sample was collected at baseline and endline for quantification of plasma folate (LC-MSMS), vitamin B12 (immunoanalyzer), betaine and tHcy (HPLC-MSMS). Linear regression was used to assess the association of endline plasma folate, vitamin B12, and betaine with endline tHcy, with folate group as an interaction term, adjusting for baseline tHcy, weeks gestation, and dietary folate intake. As the trial is not yet unblinded, groups are presented as “A” and “B”.ResultsThe median [IQR] concentrations of plasma analytes at endline in groups “A” and “B” were: folate 58 [54, 65] and 66 [61, 82] nmol/L; vitamin B12 204 [159,239] and 206 [166,300] pmol/L; betaine 15 [13, 16] and 14 [12, 17] µmol/L; tHcy 4.9 [4.5, 5.6] and 5.2 [4.7, 5.8] µmol/L, respectively. Folate group did not significantly modify the association of tHcy with folate (p = 0.39), vitamin B12 (p = 0.42), or betaine (p = 0.56). Overall, there was no association (β, 95% CI) of endline plasma folate, vitamin B12, or betaine with the outcome tHcy (µmol/L): folate −0.002 (−0.01 to 0.009); tB12 −0.0005 (−0.002 to 0.0005); betaine 0.02 (−0.04 to 0.07). Baseline tHcy was the most significant predictor of endline tHcy in each model (β = 0.8, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.0).ConclusionsFolate, vitamin B12, and betaine concentrations were not associated with tHcy, nor was the effect modified by supplementation with folic acid versus 5-MTHF. In this group of n = 60 healthy pregnant women, baseline tHcy was the most important predictor of tHcy in later pregnancy.Funding SourcesHealthy Starts Catalyst Grant (BCCHR).

Higher dietary phytochemical index is associated with lower odds of knee osteoarthritis

Previous studies have shown that adherence to dietary patterns rich in plant-based foods may reduce the odds of osteoarthritis; however, limited data are available on the association of consumption of diets rich in phytochemicals and odds of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In this case–control study conducted in Iran, we aimed to investigate whether a higher dietary phytochemical index (DPI) is associated with decreased odds of having KOA. A total of 124 cases aged 20–60 years diagnosed with bilateral primary KOA according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria and 124 controls frequency-matched on age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were included in the study. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect information on dietary intakes. To calculate DPI scores, the dietary energy derived from foods rich in phytochemicals (kcal) was divided by the participant’s total daily energy intake (kcal). Patients with KOA had lower intakes of dietary fiber (P = 0.004), vitamin A (P = 0.007), vitamin C (P = 0.001), and folate (P = 0.021) compared to controls. In the crude model, individuals in the third tertile of DPI had 65% lower odds of having KOA compared to those in the first tertile (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.67, P-trend = 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounders, including age, sex, physical activity, smoking, and supplement use, this inverse association remained significant (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.73, P-trend = 0.004). After further adjustment for BMI, this inverse association between DPI and odds of KOA also remained significant (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.69, P-trend = 0.003). These findings suggest that adherence to a phytochemical-rich diet, as indicated by the increasing DPI score, is associated with lower odds of KOA.

Intakes of Folate, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12 in Relation to All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A National Population-Based Cohort.

The evidence regarding the intake of dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 in relation to mortality in the general population is limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between dietary intakes of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a large U.S. cohort. This study included a total of 55,569 adults from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) and NHANES 1999–2014. Vital data were determined by linking with the National Death Index records through 31 December 2015. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the relationships of all-cause and cause-specific mortality with dietary folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 intake. Dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B6 were inversely associated with mortality from all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer for men and with mortality from all-cause and cardiovascular disease for women. In men, the multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest versus lowest quintiles of folate and vitamin B6 were 0.77 (0.71–0.85) and 0.79 (0.71–0.86) for all-cause mortality, 0.59 (0.48–0.72) and 0.69 (0.56–0.85) for CVD mortality, and 0.68 (0.56–0.84) and 0.73 (0.60–0.90) for cancer mortality, respectively. Among women, the multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest versus lowest quintiles of folate and vitamin B6 were 0.86 (0.78–0.95) and 0.88 (0.80–0.97) for all-cause mortality and 0.53 (0.41–0.69) and 0.56 (0.44–0.73) for CVD mortality, respectively. No significant associations between dietary vitamin B12 and all-cause and cause-specific mortality were observed. In conclusion, higher dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B6 were significantly associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Our findings suggest that increasing the intake of folate and vitamin B6 may lower the mortality risk among U.S. adults.

Effectiveness of beetroot extract in SH-SY5Y neuronal cell protection against Fumonisin B1, Ochratoxin A and its combination

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are fungal metabolites of worldwide concern because of their effect on human and animal health, as both have been classified by IARC as possible carcinogens (Group 2B). Beetroot is a source of dietary fiber, folic acid, and vitamin C, and some studies have demonstrated their antioxidant activity. Therefore, this work presents the cytoprotective effect of beetroot extract (BRE) on a neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y cells) exposed to FB1, OTA, and its combination. Cytotoxicity was studied by the MTT ([3–4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, for 24 h and 48 h. Simultaneous treatment and pre-treatment strategies were tested with 1:512–1:2 and 1:0 dilutions of BRE, with a concentration range from 0.4 to 100 μM of FB1 and from 0.19 to 50 μM of OTA. IC50 values of 5.8 μM and 9.1 μM at 24 h and 48 h, respectively were obtained for OTA while no cytotoxic effect was detected at the concentrations tested for FB1. Cytoprotection with increased viability was obtained when the simultaneous BRE + OTA strategy was performed. Finally, better protection was observed in the pretreatment strategy in which cells were exposed 24 h previously to BRE, compared to that shown in the simultaneous assay.

Sex-Specific Metabolic Effects of Dietary Folate Withdrawal in Wild-Type and Aldh1l1 Knockout Mice.

ALDH1L1 (10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase), an enzyme of folate metabolism, is highly expressed in the liver. It regulates the overall flux of folate-bound one-carbon groups by converting 10-formyltetrahydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate and CO2 in a NADP+-dependent reaction. Our previous study revealed that Aldh1l1 knockout (KO) mice have an altered liver metabotype with metabolic symptoms of folate deficiency when fed a standard chow diet containing 2 ppm folic acid. Here we performed untargeted metabolomic analysis of liver and plasma of KO and wild-type (WT) male and female mice fed for 16 weeks either standard or folate-deficient diet. OPLS-DA, a supervised multivariate technique that was applied to 6595 and 10,678 features for the liver and plasma datasets, respectively, indicated that genotype and diet, alone or in combination, gave distinct metabolic profiles in both types of biospecimens. A more detailed analysis of affected metabolic pathways based on most confidently identified metabolites in the liver and plasma (OL1 and OL2a ontology level) indicated that the dietary folate restriction itself does not fully recapitulate the metabolic effect of the KO. Of note, dietary folate withdrawal enhanced the metabolic perturbations linked to the ALDH1L1 loss only for a subset of metabolites. Importantly, both the ALDH1L1 loss and dietary folate deficiency produced sex-specific metabolic effects.

Excessive folic acid intake combined with undernutrition during gestation alters offspring behavior and brain monoamine profiles

Dietary folic acid augmentation during gestation reduces neurodevelopmental disorder risk in offspring; however, it is still unclear if excessive maternal folic acid intake can impair brain function in offspring. We examined if excessive folic acid intake throughout gestation altered the behavior of male offspring under poor nutrition during early gestation (E5.5-E11.5). Dams were divided into four groups: control (CON, 2mg folic acid/kg of food), excessive folic acid fortification (FF, 10mg folic acid/kg of food), undernutrition (UN, 40% food reduction from E5.5-E11.5), and excessive folic acid fortification plus undernutrition (UN-FF). Excess maternal folic acid fortification induced hyperactivity in the open-field and lower anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze at 9 weeks of age. These behavioral changes were accompanied by reduced dopamine in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), norepinephrine in the amygdala, and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the dorsal midbrain (DM), PFC, and amygdala where 5-HT neurons project from the DM. Furthermore, canonical discriminant analysis, including dopamine and DOPAC concentrations in the PFC, norepinephrine concentrations in the PFC, amygdala, and pons, and 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations in the amygdala and DM, correctly classified 73.5% of the offspring in CON, FF, UN, and UN-FF groups. The first discriminant function mainly classified groups based on nutritional status, whereas the second function mainly classified groups based on folic acid intake. Our study suggests that combined transformations of brain monoamine profiles by maternal undernutrition and excess folic acid intake is involved in the behavioral alteration of offsprings.

Nutrient intakes and cognitive competence in the context of abstract reasoning of school-age children in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana

PurposeThe association between nutrition and cognitive test performance among school children is limited in developing countries, including Ghana. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between nutrient intake and cognitive competence in the context of abstract reasoning among school-aged children in the Tamale Metropolis.Design/methodology/approachThe present cross-sectional study recruited 596 children aged 9–13 years from government-owned and private primary schools in Tamale Metropolis. Dietary intake was assessed by using three-day repeated 24-hour recall. Cognition was assessed by the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) test, made up of 36 questions and used as a continuous variable, whereby higher scores indicated better cognition.FindingsThe majority of the children did not meet the recommended dietary allowances for protein (55.5%) and fibre (94.0%) and estimated adequate requirement for energy (86.6%), folate (72.8%), vitamin E (90.6%) and zinc (74.8%). More girls (55.1%) performed poorly in the cognition test than the boys (45.7%) (p = 0.029). Between-subject effects determined using univariate and multivariate analyses indicated age (p = 0.002), dietary folate (p = 0.016), vitamin C intake (p = 0.011), combined age and dietary folate (p = 0.049) and combined age and dietary vitamin C (p = 0.022) significantly affected cognition scores. Girls had lower odds (AOR = 0.7, p = 0.021, 95%CI = 0.5–0.9) of scoring above the 50th percentile in cognition test than boys.Research limitations/implicationsThe current nutrient intakes of the children were inadequate. The children performed poorly in Raven’s cognition test of abstract reasoning, and this was associated with being a girl.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate nutrient intakes and RCPM test performance among children in Northern Ghana. Thus, the findings of the study provide relevant information needed by stakeholders to implement nutrition programs in basic schools, aimed at ensuring optimal nutrition achievement among school children for improved cognition.

Effects of Benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts, dietary vitamins, folate, and carotene intakes on preterm birth: a nested case–control study from the birth cohort in China

BackgroundPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and its DNA adducts has been suggested to increase the risk of preterm birth (PB). Yet, few studies have been conducted to investigate this association, and the role of dietary nutrients intakes including vitamins, folate, and carotene during pre- and post-conception on this association has not been studied.MethodsBuilding upon a birth cohort in Taiyuan China, we conducted a nested case control study including 83 PB and 82 term births. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)-DNA adducts were measured by an improved LC-MC/MC analytic method. Dietary nutrient intakes were estimated from food frequency questionnaire using the Chinese Standard Tables of Food Consumption. Multivariable logistic regression model was used to examine the associations.ResultsIncreased risk of PB was observed as per interquartile increase in maternal BaP-DNA adduct level (OR = 1.27, 95%CI 0.95–1.67). Compared to low level (below mean) of maternal adducts, high level (above mean) of adducts was associated with the risk of PB (OR = 2.05, 95%CI 1.05–4.01). After stratified by dietary nutrients intakes, high adducts levels were associated with approximately 2–fourfold times increases in risk of PB among women with low vitamin A, C, E, folate, and carotene intakes during pre- and/or post-conception. Stronger stratified associations were consistently seen during preconception. Similar patterns were observed after additional adjustment for supplementation.ConclusionsOur study supports the hypothesis that high level of maternal PAHs exposure was significantly associated with increased risk of PB, and provides the first evidence that dietary vitamins, carotene, and folate intake levels may modify this association during different pregnancy windows. Our findings are relevant to identify recommendation for environment management and prenatal nutrition regarding pregnant women and newborns. Further investigation in other populations is warranted.

Dietary Folate Intake and Fecundability in Two Preconception Cohorts

(Abstracted from Hum Reprod 2022;37(4):828–837) Folate is an antioxidant micronutrient present in many vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and the liver. Its synthetic counterpart, folic acid, is used as a dietary supplement for fortification of wheat and other foods.

Folate Deficiency Increased Lipid Accumulation and Leptin Production of Adipocytes.

Imbalanced dietary habits are closely associated with poor micronutrients status and the development of obesity. Previous studies have shown that serum folate level is decreased in obese individuals. However, whether folate deficiency could result in adiposity is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary folate on lipid accumulation and leptin production using both in vivo and in vitro studies. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed with a diet with (f1) or without (f0) folate in a high-fat (HF) diet containing high-sucrose (HFS-f1, HFS-f0) for 4.5–5 months in Experiment 1, or an HF diet (HF-f1, HF-f0) for 12 months in Experiment 2, or an HF diet containing high-fructose (HFF-f1, HFF-f0) for 12 months in Experiment 3, compared with the normal-fat (NF-f1, NF-f0) diet, respectively. The serum levels of folate and leptin, white adipose tissue (WAT), size of adipocytes, hepatic contents of triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol were measured. In vitro study, TG contents, proinflammatory cytokines, leptin, and expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and lipogenesis-related genes of 3T3-L1 adipocytes cultured with (f1) or without (f0) folate were assayed. The results showed that folate deficiency together with a high-fat diet (HFS-f0, HF-f0, HFF-f0) had higher WAT mass, adipocyte size, serum leptin level, and hepatic TG compared to those of the folate-sufficient groups (HFS-f1, HF-f1, and HFF-f1). Folate deficiency with a high-fat high -sucrose or -fructose diet (HFS-f0, HFF-f0) significantly increased the body weight of the mice. Increased intracellular TG, leptin, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and interleukin (IL)-6 levels, and the expression of Hif1α and lipogenesis-related genes Cebpα, Cebpβ, Acc1, Fasn, and Fabp4 were also detected in folate-deficient 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results suggested that folate deficiency increased lipid accumulation and leptin production of adipocytes, and thus, inadequate folate status might be one of the risk factors for adiposity.

Supplementation of sulfur and folic acid improves performance of broiler chicken fed suboptimal concentrations of dietary methionine.

Supplementation of sulfur (S) and folic acid (FA) are known to spare the dietary requirement of methionine (Met) in chicken. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding graded concentrations of FA (0, 2, 4, 6, 8mg kg-1 ) and two concentrations of S (0 and 2g kg-1 ) in 5 × 2 factorial design. Diet without FA and S was considered as negative control (NC). Another diet with the recommended concentration of Met was considered as the positive control (PC). Each diet was offered ad libitum from day 1 to 42 to 10 pens of 20 male chicks each. Broilers fed the NC diet had lower body weight gain (BWG), high feed conversion ratio, lower ready-to-cook yield, higher lipid peroxidation and reduced concentrations of protein and albumin in serum. BWG improved with FA at day 21 and showed a trend of improvement at day 42. Similarly, BWG improved with S supplementation at day 42. The FA and S interaction indicated a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation with S supplementation at the majority of FA levels. Serum protein fractions increased with increased dietary FA content and increased further with S supplementation. Based on the results, it is concluded that the combination of FA (4mg kg-1 ) and S (2g kg-1 ) improved BWG. Similarly, the feed efficiency with 6mg FA alone or with S was similar to the PC group. The improvement was probably due to the increase in protein accretion and reduction in lipid peroxidation with FA and S supplementation. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Maternal Dietary Iron and Folate Intake in the Third Trimester and Birth Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study at a Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana.

Dietary iron and folate are nutrients of great importance during pregnancy because of the role they play to ensure optimal birth outcomes. Dietary intake has been found to decline during the third trimester. This study sought to assess the dietary iron and folate intake and pregnancy outcomes of women in their third trimester attending antenatal clinics at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Eighty-one participants at a gestational age of 32 weeks were recruited and monitored until delivery-from May 4, 2020 to July 1 2020-using a consecutive sampling method by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Dietary intake information was obtained based on a 52-item quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Daily supplement doses of participants were recorded. Serum concentrations of iron (ferritin) and folate were determined using ELISA microwells. The mean dietary intake of iron and folate was 13.5 ± 8.30 mg and 331.0 ± 114.0 μg, respectively. The mean intake of iron and folic acid supplements was 42.7 ± 48.8 mg and 5.5 ± 11.1 mg, respectively. Most of the participants had serum ferritin and folate levels in the normal range (82.7% and 87.7%, respectively). Almost all the participants had positive birth outcomes, and total dietary iron was a significant predictor of birth outcome (P = 0.041). The majority of pregnant women do not meet the daily recommendation for iron and folate, but adherence to daily supplement intake was good and could have accounted for positive birth outcomes.

Maternal micronutrient status and its association with sociodemographic, maternal, and dietary factors in a cross-sectional study.

Maternal serum micronutrient status can have a significant impact on short- and long-term outcomes for mother and offspring. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of maternal serum folate, ferritin, and vitamin B12 status with maternal and dietary factors. This observational cross-sectional study was carried out with 165 healthy pregnant women at least 18 years of age with a singleton pregnancy. Maternal nutrient intake was determined by 24-hour dietary recall method and supplement records. Multivariable analyses using stepwise linear regression models were performed to associations of dietary intakes and maternal serum status. There was a difference between the lowest and highest quartile of maternal serum folate, ferritin, and vitamin B12 status and maternal characteristics and dietary, and total intakes of nutrients (p < 0.05). Multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis showed the predictors of serum folate status were dietary folate equivalent, dietary folate, total vitamin B6 and iron intake. Primer predictors of serum ferritin and vitamin B12 status were dietary protein intake (p < 0.05). Our findings support existing recommendations that folic acid supplementation should be prescribed to achieve optimal serum folate status during pregnancy. However, dietary protein intake is important to provide optimal maternal serum vitamin B12 and ferritin status.

Exploring the interaction mechanism of dietary protein ovalbumin and folic acid: A combination research of molecular simulation technology and multispectroscopy

This study aims to reveal the mechanism of the interaction between folic acid (FA) and egg ovalbumin (OVA) through the method of multi-spectroscopic, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation in order to probe OVA as the possibility of a carrier of unstable vitamins. The results of the fluorescence spectra indicated a static quenching in the OVA-FA with a strong affinity of 6.998 × 104 M−1. At the same time, the complex formed by FA and OVA has changed the microenvironment. The measurement results of circular dichroism and particle size showed that FA and OVA gradually formed larger particles without changed the secondary structure of the protein. In addition, the results of molecular simulations indicated that the interaction between OVA and FA is mainly stabilized by strong hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds. This research was expanded the application prospect of dietary protein OVA as a transportation and protection system of vitamin substances.