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J F Gregory

Publications and source records attributed to J F Gregory.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Urinary excretion of deuterium-labeled folate and the metabolite p-aminobenzoylglutamate in humans.

Stable isotopic methods were employed to determine the proportion of ingested folate excreted as the metabolite p-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABG, free and N-acetyl) in urine. Adult male subjects (n = 7) were maintained on a 4.54 mumol/d (2 mg/d) folate saturation regimen. After 7 d, subjects were given a mixed oral dose containing 0.67 mumol (300 micrograms) each of bideuterofolic acid (d2) and tetradeutero-folic acid (d4). Urine was collected for the following 48 h and analyzed for folate and pABG. The extent of deuterium labeling of urinary folate and pABG was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Urinary total pABG excretion increased less than twofold as a result of the folate saturation, whereas urinary folate increased over 10-fold. Urinary d2 and d4 folates each contained 14-15% of the respective oral doses of labeled compounds, whereas urinary d2 and d4 pABG comprised only 0.98-1.15% of the labeled doses. Molar ratios (d2/d4) of excreted folate and pABG indicated that there was no in vivo isotopic discrimination between the labeled folates. Urinary pABG accounted for 5.1 +/- 0.6% of total ingested folate, whereas labeled pABG was about 6.7-7.6% of the excretion of labeled compounds (i.e., labeled folate + pABG). This study indicated that pABG is not a major excretory product during folate supplementation, but its relative importance may increase in conditions of reduced folate nutriture.

Adult↗

Ascorbic acid bioavailability in foods and supplements.

The bioavailability of ascorbic acid from food has been assumed to be high, but little quantitative information has been available to substantiate this assumption because of the limited precision and low statistical power of previous studies. A recent depletion-repletion study with a more effective experimental design has shown clearly that ascorbic acid bioavailability is equivalent in ascorbic acid tablets (with and without iron), orange juice, whole orange sections, and cooked broccoli. The bioavailability of ascorbic acid in raw broccoli was 20% lower, although this difference would probably have little nutritional significance in typical mixed diets.

Adult↗

Relative bioavailability of deuterium-labeled monoglutamyl tetrahydrofolates and folic acid in human subjects.

The bioavailability of orally administered monoglutamyl folic acid and various (6S)-tetrahydrofolates was examined in humans with stable-isotope methods. Folic acid (PteGlu), tetrahydrofolate (H4folate), 5-formyl-H4folate, 10-formyl-H4folate, and 5-methyl-H4folate were prepared for oral administration in 3',5'-2H2 labeled (d2) form, and [glu-2H4]folic acid (d4-PteGlu) was prepared for intravenous injection. In each of five trials, fasting adult males (n = 7) on a folate saturation regimen (2 mg/d) were given a single oral dose of one of the d2-folates in apple juice, as well as an intravenous injection of d4-PteGlu as a control. Urine was collected for 48 h and the isotope labeling of urinary folates determined by mass spectrometry. Isotope excretion ratios of urinary folates were used as criteria of bioavailability (pooled SE = 0.10): PteGlu (1.53, least squares mean), 10-formyl-H4folate (1.02), 5-methyl-H4folate (0.99), 5-formyl-H4folate (0.1.13), and H4folate (0.71). These results indicate that differences exist in the bioavailability of monoglutamyl folates under these experimental conditions. This variation, whether due to differences in absorption or postabsorptive events, must be considered in quantitative studies of folate utilization with this type of protocol.

Administration, Oral↗

Pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside affects the metabolic utilization of pyridoxine in rats.

A major form of vitamin B-6 in plant-derived foods is pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside. Previous studies have shown that pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside is poorly available as a source of vitamin B-6 in rats and is partially utilized in humans. This research was conducted to determine whether unlabeled pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside affects the metabolic utilization of simultaneously administered isotopically labeled pyridoxine in rats. Three groups of rats (n = 6) were administered a single oral dose of 0, 36 or 72 nmol of unlabeled pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside along with 166.5 MBq (240 nmol) of [14C]pyridoxine. Twenty-four hours after administration of the dose the rats were killed, and the isotopic distribution of vitamin B-6 metabolites in liver and urine was determined. Urinary 14C and hepatic 14C-labeled pyridoxine phosphate and pyridoxal phosphate were directly related to pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside dose. Hepatic 14C, 14C-labeled pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine, and the concentration of urinary [14C]4-pyridoxic acid, relative total urinary 14C, were inversely proportional to the dose of pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside. These results provide evidence that pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside quantitatively alters the metabolism and in vivo retention of [14C]pyridoxine and that pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside may retard the utilization of nonglycosylated forms of vitamin B-6.

Administration, Oral↗

In vivo folate kinetics during chronic supplementation of human subjects with deuterium-labeled folic acid.

Six healthy men (22-31 y) were supplemented for 4 wk with folic acid labeled with deuterium [3',5'-2H2; 3.6 mumol/d (1.6 mg/d)] to permit evaluation of in vivo kinetics of this vitamin. Total folate in urine, serum and erythrocytes was determined by microbiological assay, and isotopic labeling of urinary and erythrocyte folate was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. During supplementation, serum folate reached maximal concentration in approximately 18 d, whereas excretion of total and deuterium-labeled folates increased rapidly and reached isotopic steady state in 1-2 wk. Isotopic labeling of erythrocyte folate increased continually over the entire supplementation period. Upon cessation of supplementation, red blood cell folate and urinary folate excretion (total and labeled) decreased linearly. The decline in total serum folate could be described with a biexponential model that yielded a slow-phase half-life of 18.7 +/- 2.3 d. This model also indicated a turnover of 4.5% of the total body folate pool per day. Pool sizes of total body folate before and after supplementation (at steady state) were calculated to be 10 mumol (4.4 mg) and 98.9 mumol (43.7 mg), respectively. These kinetic data and stable isotope methodology may be used to address a wide range of experimental questions related to folate metabolism.

Adult↗

Folic acid, 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate and 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate exhibit equivalent intestinal absorption, metabolism and in vivo kinetics in rats.

The intestinal absorption and in vivo kinetics of (6S)-[3H]-5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-methyl-H4folate), (6S)-[3H]-5-formyl-H4folate and [3H]folic acid were investigated to determine whether inherent differences exist in the overall bioavailability of these folates in rats. Adult rats (n = 9 per group) were given an intragastric dose of the appropriate folate (50 pmol/100 g body wt) in 50 mmol/L ascorbate (pH 7). Each compound underwent nearly complete absorption within 8 h, and there was no significant difference in the excretion kinetics in relation to the form of folate administered. A biphasic pattern of excretion was observed over the following 8 d. Both urine and feces were important excretory routes. The rapid phase of total isotopic excretion (urinary and fecal) exhibited a half time (t1/2) of 0.11-0.12 d, whereas the t1/2 of the slower phase was 13.4-15.9 d. Isotopic distributions and the pattern of labeled folates in urine and tissues were similar regardless of the form administered. These results indicate that the bioavailability of orally administered folic acid, 5-methyl-H4folate and 5-formyl-H4folate is equivalent in rats under the conditions of this study.

Animals↗

A novel vitamin B6 metabolite may be a circulating marker of cancer.

A previously unknown metabolite of vitamin B6, tentatively identified as adenosine-N6-diethylthioether-N1-pyridoximine-5'- phosphate, accounts for up to 30% of the total intracellular vitamin B6 observed in tumor cells cultured in the presence of radiolabeled pyridoxine. When various animal and human tumor cells were incubated with radiolabeled pyridoxine, the formation of this metabolite was greatest in rapidly growing cells that were the least differentiated. If analytical methods are verified, the presence of the compound in serum may provide an indicator of in vivo tumor growth.

Adenosine↗

Relative bioavailability of deuterium-labeled monoglutamyl and hexaglutamyl folates in human subjects.

The bioavailability of orally administered mono- and polyglutamyl folates was examined in humans by using stable-isotope methods. [3',5'-2H2]Folic acid (d2-FA) and [3',5'-2H2]pteroylhexaglutamate (d2-PteGlu6) were prepared for oral administration and (glu-2H4)folic acid (d4-FA) was prepared for intravenous (iv) injection. In two trials, adult males (n = 7) on a folate saturation regimen (2 mg/d) were given a single 677-nmol oral dose of either d2-FA or d2-PteGlu6 in apple juice along with an iv injection of 502 nmol d4-FA as a control. Urine was collected for 48 h and the isotope labeling of urinary folates determined by mass spectrometry. The excretion ratio of urinary folates (% of d2-folate dose/% of d4-folate dose) resulting from oral d2-FA and iv d4-FA was 1.45 +/- 0.10 (mean +/- SEM) whereas the ratio for oral d2-PteGlu6 and iv d4-FA was 0.67 +/- 0.04. These results indicate that the d2-PteGlu6 is available to humans as a source of folate although its bioavailability is substantially less than that of d2-FA under these conditions.

Administration, Oral↗

Bioavailability of pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside determined in humans by stable-isotopic methods.

Stable-isotopic methods were employed to evaluate the utilization of dietary pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside (PN-glucoside), a major form of vitamin B-6 in plant-derived foods, as a source of available vitamin B-6 for adult men (20-35 y old, n = 5). Deuterium-labeled forms of free pyridoxine (PN) and PN-glucoside were compared using the urinary excretion of labeled forms of the vitamin B-6 metabolite 4-pyridoxic acid as the main index of absorption and metabolism. When comparing orally administered, isotopically labeled PN and PN-glucoside in separate groups of subjects, similar bioavailability was observed although within-group variability was high. A dual-label study designed to examine the bioavailability of these compounds when administered simultaneously indicated that the utilization of deuterated PN-glucoside was 58 +/- 13% (mean +/- SEM) relative to that of deuterated PN. PN-glucoside was detected in all urine samples, which provided additional evidence of incomplete metabolic utilization. In contrast, intravenously administered PN-glucoside underwent approximately half the metabolic utilization of oral PN-glucoside. These studies indicate that the bioavailability of dietary PN-glucoside, although incomplete, is substantially greater in humans than previously found in rats. In addition, the difference between oral and intravenous routes suggests a role of beta-glucosidase(s) of the intestinal mucosa, microflora, or both in the release of free PN from dietary PN-glucoside.

Administration, Oral↗

Inhibition by selected food components of human and porcine intestinal pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase activity.

Studies were conducted to determine the in vitro effect of selected food components on activity of the brush border membrane pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase (folate conjugase) of porcine and human intestine. Foods differed widely in their effects although the pattern of the effects on both porcine and human enzymes was similar. Extracts of legumes, tomatoes, and orange juice consistently inhibited the conjugase activity. Citrate was also inhibitory to some extent. In contrast, extracts of cereal grain flours, whole egg, milk, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce caused little inhibition. Purified phytohemagglutinins, soybean trypsin inhibitors, and bovine milk folate-binding protein had no effect on the conjugase activity at the concentrations tested. The food substances that inhibited the conjugase activity did not bind the polyglutamyl folate substrate or inhibit intestinal brush border membrane sucrase and alkaline phosphatase. These findings suggest that food composition may influence folate bioavailability by interfering with the intestinal deconjugation of dietary polyglutamyl folates.

Animals↗

Stable-isotope methods for assessment of folate bioavailability.

Research was conducted to determine whether stable-isotope-labeled folates could be employed for studies of folate absorption and metabolism in human subjects. Two deuterium-labeled forms of folic acid were evaluated for simultaneous in vivo use, with quantification of relative bioavailability by measurement of urinary excretion of labeled folates. Adult male subjects (n = 11) were given saturation doses of 2 mg unlabeled folic acid/d for 7 d before the study. After an overnight fast each subject consumed 677 nmol each of 3',5'-labeled bideuterofolic acid and glutamate-labeled tetradeuterofolic acid. The 48-h urinary excretion of deuterated folates represented 5-6% of the ingested dose. The molar ratio of labeled folates in urine was not significantly different from the molar ratio in the ingested dose, which indicated equivalent absorption and metabolism of these labeled forms of the vitamin. These results support the validity of this protocol for in vivo studies of folate bioavailability.

Adult↗

Properties of pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase in pancreatic juice of the pig.

The function of pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase (PPH) of pancreatic secretion in the hydrolysis of dietary polyglutamyl folates (PteGlun) in humans is unclear. In this study, PPH was detected in pancreatic juice collected from pigs during both fasting and postprandial conditions. The secretion of PPH was markedly increased following feeding. Pancreatic PPH showed the following characteristics: 1) endo/random hydrolysis of gamma-glutamyl peptide bonds of Pte-Glun substrates, yielding folic acid as the terminal product; 2) maximum activity at pH 4.0-4.5 and maximum stability at pH 7.0; 3) stimulation of activity by Zn2+ and 2-mercaptoethanol; 4) Km values for pteroyltriglutamate (PteGlu3) of 28.7 microM at pH 4.0 and 9.1 microM at pH 5.0; 5) apparent molecular weight of 29,000; and 6) isoelectric point within the range of 8.5-9.0. On the basis of PPH activity, volume of the postprandial secretion and pH profile of enzyme activity, it is suggested that pancreatic PPH may act in vivo in folate digestion and absorption to initiate the deconjugation of dietary PteGlun prior to the action of jejunal brush border PPH.

Animals↗

The bioavailability of vitamin B6. Recent findings.

Further clarification of the bioavailability of dietary vitamin B6 requires better analytical data concerning the forms of vitamin B6 in foods as well as the overall composition of foods. The application of radioisotopic and stable-isotopic studies such as those described will provide useful information concerning the inherent bioavailability of the various vitamin B6 compounds. Additional studies should then address the influence of other dietary components on the utilization of the vitamin B6 compounds, using intrinsic and extrinsic enrichment techniques. Care must be taken in interpretation of the results of animal bioassays in the determination of the bioavailability of vitamin B6 in complex diets.

Animals↗

Hydrolysis of pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside by a broad-specificity beta-glucosidase from mammalian tissues.

Research was conducted to evaluate the ability of a broad-specificity beta-glucosidase in mammalian tissues to catalyze the hydrolytic release of free pyridoxine from pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside, a naturally occurring form of vitamin B6 in plant-derived foods. Activity was detected in liver and intestinal mucosa using tritiated pyridoxine glucoside as a substrate. In the rat and guinea pig, enzyme activity was greater in intestine than in liver or kidney while even greater activity was detected in human intestinal tissue. Reaction rates were, however, low in all tissues. Hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucoside was also greatest in intestinal tissue. The characteristics of the enzymatic hydrolysis of pyridoxine glucoside to pyridoxine included: (i) most activity in the soluble tissue fraction, (ii) a pH optimum of approximately 6.0, and (iii) inhibition caused by the addition of sodium taurocholate. These characteristics are very similar to those of the broad-specificity beta-glucosidase in mammalian tissues with respect to the hydrolysis of a variety of naturally occurring and synthetic substrates. The apparent Km was greater than 2 mM for pyridoxine glucoside hydrolysis by intestinal preparations of each species, which is much greater than expected intestinal concentrations derived from dietary sources. In vivo studies have indicated that the intestine is involved in the metabolic utilization of dietary pyridoxine glucoside. The results observed here suggest that an alternate process, possibly involving intestinal microorganisms, may also be involved in the in vivo hydrolysis of pyridoxine glucoside.

Animals↗

The fate of dietary pyridoxine-beta-glucoside in the lactating rat.

[3H]5'-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl) pyridoxine (PN-glucoside) and [14C]pyridoxine (PN) were orally administered to lactating rats. Milk was collected from the dam, and the stomach contents and liver were collected from the suckling pups 24 and 48 h after administration. Analysis of the isotopic ratio (3H/14C) in the milk and stomach contents indicated that the secretion of 3H in the milk was 20-25% as great as the secretion of 14C. The only labeled form of 3H and 14C in the stomach contents was pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), indicating that PN-glucoside was hydrolyzed to PN and subsequently metabolized prior to secretion by the mammary gland. The isotopic ratio in the livers of the pups was similar to that of the stomach contents. Furthermore, the relative distribution of the two isotopes among the hepatic metabolites of the pups was similar. The results of this study indicate that intact PN-glucoside is not secreted in milk, although vitamin B-6 derived from the limited hydrolysis and metabolism of PN-glucoside is delivered to the mammary gland for secretion.

Animals↗

Chemical synthesis of deuterated folate monoglutamate and in vivo assessment of urinary excretion of deuterated folates in man.

the synthesis and in vivo application of stable-isotopically labeled folic acid was investigated to devise methods suitable for studies of folate metabolism in human subjects. Glutamate-labeled tetradeutero-pteroylglutamic acid (d4-folic acid) was prepared by mixed anhydride coupling of N10-trifluoroacetylpteroic acid and dimethyl L-[3,3,4,4-2H4]glutamic acid, saponification in sodium deuteroxide, and chromatographic purification. Retention of the isotopic label was verified by proton NMR and mass spectrometry of the para-aminobenzoylglutamic acid product of C9-N10 bond cleavage. A method was devised for determination of of isotopic enrichment of urinary d4-folates derived from orally administered d4-folic acid using affinity chromatographic purification, chemical cleavage of the C9-N10 bond, HPLC isolation of the p-[2H4]aminobenzoylglutamate product, followed by negative-ion chemical-ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Data concerning the urinary excretion of d4-folates derived from an oral dose of d4-folic acid in an adult human are presented.

Administration, Oral↗