scholarly journals Folic acid – role in the body, recommendations and clinical significance

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Myszczyszyn ◽  
Rafał Krajewski ◽  
Monika Ostapów ◽  
Lidia Hirnle

AbstractIntroduction. Folic acid is a compound classified as B group vitamins. In the body it is subject to processes that transfer its inactive form into a form responsible for biological effects of folic acid, i.e. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). It is, in particular, responsible for processes of the correct biosynthesis of purine and pyridine bases present in the formation of DNA and RNA molecules. Humans do not synthesize the endogenous form of folic acid; therefore, it is vital to supplement this vitamin in its natural form or multivitamin preparations. The most folic acid is found in the green leafy vegetables (spinach, peas, asparagus) and in offal (liver). An adequate supply of folic acid is especially indicated in pregnant women with a reduced amount of folic acid due to its use by an intensively developing foetus. The recommended dose of folic acid during this period is 0.4 mg/24h and this dose varies depending on the patient’s and her family’s medical history. The updated state of knowledge on the role of vitamin B9 in the body has been presented. The importance of its supplementation in specific clinical cases was analyzed.Summary. Many studies indicate an important role of the folic acid in the prevention of congenital defects of the nervous, cardiovascular and urogenital systems. Its deficiency increases the risk of complications in pregnancy, such as recurrent miscarriages, pre-eclampsia or postpartum haemorrhage. For this reason, a prophylactic folic acid supplementation is recommended, in women with increased risk of its deficiency, in particular.

2020 ◽  
pp. 37-42
Author(s):  
M.V. Khaitovich ◽  

Folates (folic acid-based chemical compounds) got their name from the Latin “folio” - “leaf”, since they were first synthesized from spinach leaves, in which vitamin B9 is found in maximum quantities. As an important cofactor in carbon metabolism, folates are involved in the most important metabolic processes in the body, in particular, they play a key role in the synthesis of nucleotides and DNA replication. The article provides information on the physiological role of folates, their metabolism and its genetic aspects. The clinical significance of folate deficiency is examined, their sources and doses are described, and the interaction of folic acid and drugs is highlighted. Keywords: folate, metabolism, folic acid deficiency, pregnancy.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
H.Q. Li ◽  
B. Wang ◽  
Z. Li ◽  
H.L. Luo ◽  
C. Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of rumen-protected folic acid (RPFA) on slaughter performance, visceral organ and gastrointestinal tract coefficients, and meat quality in lambs. Sixty-six lambs from 120 Hu ewes were selected based on body weight and maternal diets, and then assigned to six groups using a randomized block experimental design in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. The first factor was folic acid (FA) as RPFA in the maternal diet (0 mg/kg [M0F], 16 mg/kg [M16F] or 32 mg/kg [M32F] on dry matter basis). The second factor was FA in the lambs’ diet from weaning until slaughter (0 mg/kg [OC] or 4.0 mg/kg [OF]). The results indicated that the addition of 16 mg/kg FA to the maternal diet increased pre-slaughter weight (PSW), dressing and meat percentage, the reticulum and omasum coefficients, length of the jejunum and ileum, tail fat and perirenal fat coefficient and a* value of the meat color. The addition of RPFA to the lambs’ diet increased PSW, dressing and meat percentage, eye muscle area, abomasum weight, weight and length of the small intestine, but reduced the coefficients of tail fat. A M×O interaction was observed for the weights of heart, lungs, rumen and total stomach, weight and coefficient of omental fat and the GR value. Collectively, RPFA in the maternal and lambs’ diet improved slaughter performance and meat quality by stimulating the morphological development of the gastrointestinal tract and the distribution of fat in the body.


Author(s):  
Bhongir Aparna Varma ◽  
Srilatha Bashetti ◽  
Rajagopalan Vijayaraghavan ◽  
Kumar Sai Sailesh

 Epigenetics is one of the exciting and fastest expanding fields of biology; this is above genetics. Methylation is the process involved in the transfer of methyl group to amino acids, proteins, enzymes and DNA of all the cells, and tissues of the body. During cell-division low folate availability may result in decreased production of thymidine wherein uracil may be substituted in the place of thymidine in the DNA sequence. It was reported that folate and Vitamin B12 restricted diet resulted in aberrant methylation patterns. The current review was undertaken to explore the role of folic acid and Vitamin B12 in DNA methylation.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie E. Hallows ◽  
Timothy R. H. Regnault ◽  
Dean H. Betts

Placental insufficiency, maternal malnutrition, and other causes of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can significantly affect short-term growth and long-term health. Following IUGR, there is an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 Diabetes. The etiology of these diseases is beginning to be elucidated, and premature aging or cellular senescence through increased oxidative stress and DNA damage to telomeric ends may be initiators of these disease processes. This paper will explore the areas where telomere and telomerase biology can have significant effects on various tissues in the body in IUGR outcomes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Tam ◽  
Deborah O'Connor ◽  
Gideon Koren

There are increasing concerns that exposure to unmetabolized folic acid, which results from folic acid intakes that overwhelm the liver's metabolic capacity, may be associated with adverse effects. In this paper, we examined the folic acid status of women of reproductive age in relation to dietary intake and the effect of folic acid supplementation (1.1 mg or 5 mg). Plasma unmetabolized folic acid was not significantly correlated with folate intake estimated by food frequency questionnaire or biomarkers. The proportion of women with detectable levels of unmetabolized folic acid increased from 65% to 100% after twelve weeks of supplementation (P<0.05); however, the increase in concentrations did not reach statistical significance and the effect was not sustained. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the two doses. This suggests that there are mechanisms by which the body adapts to high folic acid intakes to limit exposure to unmetabolized folic acid.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Ghosh ◽  
Isaac Berger ◽  
Christopher H. Remien ◽  
Anuj Mubayi

AbstractAcetaminophen (APAP) overdose is one of the predominant causes of drug induced acute liver injury in the U.S and U.K. Clinical studies show that ingestion of alcohol may increase the risk of APAP induced liver injury. Chronic alcoholism may potentiate APAP hepatotoxicity and this increased risk of APAP toxicity is observed when APAP is ingested even shortly after alcohol is cleared from the body. However, clinical reports also suggest that acute alcohol consumption may have a protective effect against hepatotoxicity by inhibiting microsomal acetaminophen oxidation and thereby reducing N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) production. The aim of this study is to model this dual role of alcohol to determine how the timing of alcohol ingestion affects APAP metabolism and resulting liver injury and identify mechanisms of APAP induced liver injury. The mathematical model is developed to capture condition of a patient of single time APAP overdose who may be an acute or chronic alcohol user. The analysis suggests that the risk of APAP-induced hepatotoxicity is increased if APAP is ingested shortly after alcohol is cleared from the body in chronic alcohol users. A protective effect of acute consumption of alcohol is also observed in patients with APAP overdose. For example, simultaneous ingestion of alcohol and APAP overdose or alcohol intake after or before few hours of APAP overdose may result in less APAP-induced hepatotoxicity when compared to a single time APAP overdose. The rate of hepatocyte damage in APAP overdose patients depends on trade-off between induction and inhibition of CYP enzyme.


Author(s):  
Mary K Walingo ◽  

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, abounds in nature and is highly labile. It is a water-soluble vitamin that is lost in large amounts during food processing. It is a vitamin whose prescribed requirement across cultures is not uniform. For example , the prescribed requirement of vitamin C in Great Britain is 30mg/day, while in the U.S.A., it is 60mg/day and 100mg/day in Japan. These variations are unusual and point to the need for further research to establish the acceptable RDAs for diverse populations. The RDA for vitamin C should be more than the amount needed to prevent the occurrence of disease. Vitamin C plays significant functions in the body that enhance its role in the health status of the human body. The biochemical functions of vitamin C include: stimulation of certain enzymes, collagen biosynthesis, hormonal activation, antioxidant, detoxification of histamine, phagocytic functions of leukocytes, formation of nitrosamine, and proline hydroxylation amongst others. These functions are related to the health effects of vitamin C status in an individual. In human health, vitamin C has been associated with reduction of incidence of cancer, blood pressure, immunity, and drug metabolism and urinary hydroxyproline excretion, tissue regeneration. This vitamin is needed for the proper metabolism of drugs in the body through adequate hepatic mixed function oxidase system. Epidemiological data have revealed the preventive and curative role of vitamin C on certain disease conditions in the body though controversies still persist. Vitamin C is effective in protecting against oxidative damage in tissues and also suppresses formation of carcinogens like nitrosamines. There is an inverse relationship with blood pressure and both plasma vitamin C and Vitamin C. Vitamin C has a lowering effect on blood pressure, especially on systolic pressure more than a diastolic pressure. Low levels of plasma vitamin C are associated with stroke and with an increased risk of all cause mortality. Increased consumption of ascorbic acid raises serum ascorbic levels and could decrease the risk of death.


2019 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 492-498
Author(s):  
Yu. A. Rakhmanin ◽  
N. A. Egorova ◽  
G. N. Krasovsky ◽  
R. I. Mikhailova ◽  
A. V. Alekseeva

By the prevalence in the earth’s crust, silicon occupies the second place after oxygen. In different quantities silicon always presents in water and food products.The average daily dietary intake of silicon in Western world is about 20-50 mg/day. The biological role of silicon in human organism is still not clear, but it assumed to be necessary for processes of bone mineralization, collagen synthesis, it has a positive effect on the state of skin, hair, and nails, contributes to the prevention of atherosclerosis and Alzheimer disease. A number of scientific research is devoted to biological effects of silicon in animals and human subjects under intake with food and water, and substantiation of silicon (maximum admissible concentrations (MAC) in drinking water. In Chuvashia there was investigated the regional (geographical) pathology, which may be related with an increased silicon intake in association with the sharp imbalances of trace and macro elements in drinking water. Some measures were implemented to identify the possible role of silicon in etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report summarized materials for the experimental evaluation of the toxicity and harmless levels of silicon intake with food and water in animals. A series of studies was executed to simulate the development of silicon urolithiasis and for the elucidation of the role of macro- and microelements accompanying the intake of silicon into the body in stone formation. There are studied potential therapeutic effects of water soluble silicon compounds on human health. The standards of silicon in drinking water are regulated only in Russia and Australia. At the same time in our country there were formed two opposing points of view in relation to the hygienic standardization of silicon. The first is one - MAC of silicon in drinking water needs to be cancelled, the second - MAC of silicon in the water needs to be tightened. To resolve the contradictions it is advisable to use both the experience of harmonization of standards with international requirements, and the principle of silicon regional standardization, taking into consideration the biogeochemical characteristics of geographic areas. When searching the literature databases PubMed and CyberLeninka were used.


Author(s):  
Emily A Hixson ◽  
Priya V Borker ◽  
Edwin K Jackson ◽  
Bernard J Macatangay

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with an increased risk of age-associated comorbidities and mortality compared to people without HIV. This has been attributed to HIV-associated chronic inflammation and immune activation despite viral suppression. The adenosine pathway is an established mechanism by which the body regulates persistent inflammation in order to limit tissue damage associated with inflammatory conditions. However, HIV infection is associated with derangements in the adenosine pathway that limits its ability to control HIV-associated inflammation. This article reviews the function of purinergic signaling and the role of the adenosine signaling pathway in HIV-associated chronic inflammation. This review also discusses the beneficial and potential detrimental effects of pharmacotherapeutic strategies targeting this pathway among people with HIV.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863882110394
Author(s):  
Nhyira Yaw Adjei-Banuah ◽  
Victor Abugah Aduah ◽  
Shamsu-Deen Ziblim ◽  
Martin Amogre Ayanore ◽  
Anthony Amalba ◽  
...  

Introduction: Iron deficiency anaemia is an international public health concern and pregnant women are at an increased risk. We investigated the consumption of iron rich foods and associated factors among pregnant women in a rural district from Ghana. Methods: Following a cross-sectional design, dietary intake of iron rich foods was obtained from 252 pregnant women using a 24-hour recall food check list. Nutrition knowledge, attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics were also assessed. Findings: Participants had a mean (SD) knowledge score of 54.66 (22.74)%. About 73% of the participants had heard about iron-deficiency anaemia. Only 16.3% of the participants knew foods that help the body to absorb and use iron while 9.1% knew beverages that decrease iron absorption. About 71% of the participants ate fish and/or seafood while 67.1% of them ate green leafy vegetables. Only 4.4% of the participants ate organ meat, and 29% took flesh meat. Only 22.4% of the study participants usually drank coffee or tea while 78.2% ate vitamin C-rich foods. With regards to attitudes, 88.5% of the participants perceived anaemia to be a serious disease. Nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with the consumption of iron rich foods (β = .02; 95% CI = 0.01-0.02). Conclusion: Nutrition knowledge may be an important determinant of the consumption of iron rich foods among pregnant women making it necessary for healthcare providers to continue to provide nutrition education to pregnant women during routine antenatal care.


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