Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “FOLIC ACID”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Ultraviolet photodegradation of folic acid.

The vitamin folate is vital for all living creatures. Scientists have suggested that ultraviolet degradation of folate in vivo played a role in the evolution of mankind. In order to better understand the photodegradation of folate, we have provided a spectroscopic study of the ultraviolet photodegradation of aqueous folic acid under aerobic conditions. We found strong indications that the folic acid molecule is cleaved into p-aminobenzoyl-L-glutamic acid and 6-formyl pterin when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. When the irradiation continues, 6-formyl pterin is degraded to pterin-6-carboxylic acid. The photodegradation of folic acid is divided into three phases. In the first phase, the formation of photoproducts follows a zero order rate law. In the second phase the presence of photoproducts sensitizes the degradation of folic acid and the degradation process is accelerated. In the third phase the degradation of 6-formyl pterin to pterin-6-carboxylic acid is the dominating process. This reaction follows a first order rate law. We show that both 6-formyl pterin and pterin-6-carboxylic acid sensitize the photodegradation of folic acid. However, experiments performed in heavy water indicate that generation of singlet oxygen is probably not the explanation for the photosensitizing of folic acid.

Folic Acid↗
PubMed2000

Homocysteine-lowering effect of 500 microg folic acid every other day versus 250 microg/day.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations are a risk factor for neural tube defects and vascular diseases. Supplementation with folic acid decreases tHcy. We investigated whether supplementation with 500 microg folic acid every other day is as effective in lowering tHcy as 250 microg folic acid each day. METHODS: In a 4-week intervention study, 22 healthy young women (18-40 years old) took either 500 microg folic acid every other day (500-microg/2d group) or 250 microg folic acid each day (250-microg/d group). Fasting blood was collected on days 0 and 28. RESULTS: Plasma folate concentrations increased by 11.4 nmol/l (6.8-15.9) in the 250-microg/d group and by 9.1 nmol/l (95% CI 1.9-16.3) in the 500-microg/2d group. These increases were not significantly different from each other. THcy concentrations decreased by 1.52 micromol/l (95% CI -2.09 to -0.95; p < 0.001) in the 250-microg/d group and by 0.88 micromol/l (-1.53 to -0.23; p < 0.05) in the 500-microg/2d group. The difference in decrease between the 250-microg/d group and the 500-microg/2d group was 0.64 micromol/l (p = 0.11). CONCLUSION: Although not conclusive, this study suggests that supplying subjects with folic acid each day decreases tHcy more effectively than a double dose every other day.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Folic acid: new indications for an old well-known drug].

UNLABELLED: This review deals with the well known drug--folic acid, for which new indications have been discovered in recent years. The drug was used for 50 years in anemia megaloblastia, other anemias with bone marrow hypofunction, in leucopenia and granulocytopenia, in celiac disease and sprue and folic acid deficit during oral anticonceptive drug use. From recent investigations follows that there are strong indications for the use of folic acid in a periconceptual period and during pregnancy (at least 600 micrograms per day) and during lactation--to prevent neural tube defects. To prevent orofacial cleft defects a dose 5 mg a day mast be used. Another important new indication is hyperhomocysteinemia. Folic acid, B12 and B6 vitamins are involved in the metabolic removal of homocysteine, but folic acid deficit occurs the most often. The results of hyperhomocysteinemia are increased risk of arteriosclerosis coronary heart diseases and stroke. RESULTS: Folic acid is an important factor in preventing congenital defects (especially of the neural tube) and for lowering the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke due to hyperhomocysteinemia (together with vitamins B6 and B12).

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Awareness of folic acid for neural tube defect prevention among Israeli women.

The failure of neural tube closure during early embryogenesis results in a range of neural tube defects (NTD), the most common of which is spina bifida. The role of folic acid in reducing the rate of NTD has been well-established. Three recent cases of infants with NTD inspired this investigative study into the level of awareness and knowledge of folic acid and its function in the prevention of NTD among Israeli women. Of 920 women interviewed, only 51 (5.5%) had heard of folic acid, and 27 (2.8%) were reported to have taken it. The source of information and the motivation for self-medication were also explored with regard to socioeconomic and health profile. Awareness of folic acid was significant among women aged 17-29 years (P = 0.005) and those aged 30-39 years (P = 0.009), and among semireligious and nonreligious women (P = 0.008 and 0.01, respectively). Among women who were aware of folic acid, only nonreligious women tended to take it. No correlation was found between folic acid intake and age, religiosity, nationality, number of pregnancies, and health status among women who were aware of folic acid intake. The poor level of awareness, evident in our study, demands that the medical community broadcast the benefit of folic acid. Furthermore, government health initiatives, such as the addition of folic acid to flour preparations, may effectively ensure its appropriate daily intake. These improved education and prevention programs may forcibly reduce the rate of NTD-affected pregnancies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Fracture healing and folic acid (author's transl)].

The reaction of folic acid on fracture healing was tested on the basis of 113 rabbits. In both cases, the only application of folic acid and the combination with amino acids, the results can be regarded positively. This is also true when we consider possible methodic faults.

Animals↗
PubMed1965

Folic acid involvement in cyclopropane fatty acid synthesis in lactobacilli.

Henderson, Thomas O. (North Carolina State University, Raleigh), John J. McNeill, and S. B. Tove. Folic acid involvement in cyclopropane fatty acid synthesis in lactobacilli. J. Bacteriol. 90:1283-1287. 1965.-Evidence for the involvement of folic acid in the synthesis of lactobacillic acid (11,12-methyleneoctadecanoic acid) was obtained with Lactobacillus plantarum and L. casei. L. plantarum, in the presence of aminopterin, incorporated 25% less radioactivity from methionine-methyl-C(14) into long-chain fatty acids than did control cultures, whereas the incorporation of acetate-1-C(14), representing overall fatty acid synthesis, was the same in both conditions. Control cultures of L. plantarum contained 3 to 4.5 times more lactobacillic acid than did aminopterin-grown cultures. Similarly, L. casei, in the presence of folic acid, synthesized six times more lactobacillic acid than did folic-deficient cultures. The results of this study indicate that coenzymes of the folic acid group are involved in the synthesis of lactobacillic acid in these organisms.

Acetates↗
PubMed2005

Folic acid fortified milk increases blood folate and lowers homocysteine concentration in women of childbearing age.

Daily consumption of 400 microg folic acid prior to conception and during early pregnancy is recommended for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTD). Strategies to increase folic acid consumption include supplements and fortified foods. Milk is consumed by women and can be fortified with folic acid but little is known about the effect of fortified milk on blood folate concentration in women of childbearing age. The objective of this study was to determine whether daily consumption of milk fortified with 375 microg folic acid increases blood folate and lowers homocysteine concentrations in women of childbearing age. Seventy-three non-pregnant women (aged 18-47 y) were randomized to receive either 75 g/d of a fortified or unfortified (control) milk powder for 12 weeks. Women who consumed the folic acid fortified milk had mean (95% CI) red blood cell and plasma folate concentrations that were 539 nmol/L (436, 641) and 35 nmol/L (30, 41) higher, respectively, than in the control group. Women drinking fortified milk had a 14% lower mean plasma homocysteine concentration at week 12 than women consuming the control milk. Daily consumption of fortified milk powder providing 375 microg folic acid increases blood folate and lowers homocysteine concentrations over 12 weeks in women of childbearing age. Daily consumption of fortified milk would be expected to reduce NTD risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Engineering of Bacillus subtilis for enhanced total synthesis of folic acid.

We investigated whether the yield of the B vitamin folic acid could be elevated in Bacillus subtilis. Strategies for increasing the folic acid yield were investigated by employing computer-aided flux analysis and mutation. Controlling the activity of the enzyme pyruvate kinase by placing it under inducible control was one strategy devised to elevate yield while insuring that a rapid growth rate results. Other single mutation strategies included amplifying the expression of the genes in the folate operon and overexpressing the Escherichia coli aroH gene, which encodes 2-dehydro-3-deoxyphosphoheptonate aldolase. The latter could conceivably elevate the abundance of the folic acid precursor, para-aminobenzoic acid. Strains that combined two or more mutations were also constructed. Overall, a strain possessing inducible pyruvate kinase, overexpressed aroH, and increased transcription and translation of genes from the folic operon exhibited the best yield. The yield was eightfold higher than that displayed by the parent B. subtilis 168 strain.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed2002

Hyperhomocysteinemia in Japanese patients with convalescent stage ischemic stroke: effect of combined therapy with folic acid and mecobalamine.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered to be a risk factor for vascular diseases including ischemic stroke. It has been shown that plasma homocysteine level can be lowered by folic acid supplementation. Vitamin B(12) may be also beneficial when included in the supplement regimen with folic acid. We have examined in Japanese patients with ischemic stroke the homocysteine-lowering potential of a combination therapy with folic acid and vitamin B(12). Patients with ischemic stroke were randomized into three groups and each group received vitamin B(12) (1500 microg/day, n = 63), folic acid (5 mg/day, n = 64), or both vitamin B(12) and folic acid (n = 64) for 8 weeks. Plasma levels of homocysteine and these vitamins were followed. Significant reduction in plasma homocysteine was observed in all three groups, and the combination therapy yielded the most remarkable result, i.e., plasma total homocysteine was reduced by 38.5% and this was significantly larger than the reduction in other two groups (22.4% and 10.9% in the groups received folic acid and vitamin B(12), respectively). Vitamin B(12) synergizes with folic acid in reducing plasma homocysteine in Japanese patients with ischemic stroke and the combined therapy may be particularly effective in the secondary prevention.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Patterns and predictors of folic acid supplement use among pregnant women: the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Patterns and predictors of maternal folic acid supplement use have not been examined in large prospective studies of pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: We examined the patterns and predictors of maternal folic acid supplement use from 2 mo before pregnancy through the eighth month of pregnancy. DESIGN: Data from 22 500 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study with deliveries recorded in 2000-2003 were analyzed. RESULTS: Folic acid supplement use increased from 11.8% at 2 mo before pregnancy to 46.9% at gestational month 3, but decreased to 26.0% at gestational month 8. Of 16 116 women (71.6%) who had taken folic acid supplements at some time before or during pregnancy, 72.4% had started use after becoming pregnant. Ten percent of the women had used supplements regularly from 1 mo before pregnancy throughout the first trimester. These women more frequently reported higher maternal and paternal education, planned pregnancies, infertility treatments, or chronic diseases. They were also more likely to be older, married, and nonsmokers and to have higher income and lower parity. CONCLUSIONS: Most women started folic acid supplementation too late with respect to the prevention of neural tube defects. More effective intervention programs to improve periconceptional intakes of folic acid are needed and should consider both demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[Folic acid treatment of epileptics].

The author describes the regimen of treatment with folic acid employed in 137 patients with epilepsy. The drug was given to 81 patients to control a complex of disturbances (psychic, neurologic, somatic) caused by folic acid hypovitaminosis secondary to a prolonged use of diphenin, phenobarbital and hexamidine and to another 56 patients to prevent its depletion and to improve the psychic condition. The author considers the questions of the theoretical justification of the pathogenetic treatment with folic acid of epileptic patients.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2006

Folate concentrations and folic acid supplementation among women in their first trimester of pregnancy in a rural area with a high prevalence of neural tube defects in Shanxi, China.

BACKGROUND: Although an information campaign concerning periconceptional folic acid supplementation was launched in 1998 in Shanxi Province, China, the prevalence of neural tube defects in rural areas was reported as high as 140 per 10,000 births in 2002. The blood folate concentrations and the practice of folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in rural areas of the province are described. METHODS: A total of 483 pregnant women (mean gestation, 8.1 weeks) in a rural area of Shanxi were interviewed. Nonfasting blood samples and information on folic acid supplementation were collected. Folate concentrations in plasma and erythrocytes were determined by a microbiological assay. RESULTS: The mean concentrations of plasma and erythrocyte folate for pregnant women was 10.4 nmol/liter and 375.8 nmol/liter, respectively. Deficiencies of plasma and erythrocyte folate were observed in 20.9% and 47.6% of women, respectively. Seasonal variations were noted in the prevalence of folate deficiency, with significantly lower plasma folate concentrations in spring and summer and lower erythrocyte folate concentrations in seasons other than summer. Among pregnant women, <10% reported having taken or currently taking folic acid, and virtually no women (0.6%) took folic acid as recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Women in rural areas had low plasma and erythrocyte folate levels, and folate deficiency was highly prevalent in the area. Few women followed the recommendations regarding folic acid supplementation, and the information campaign in Shanxi was unsuccessful. These findings suggest the urgent need for combined strategies in rural areas to fortify grain with folic acid and promote folic acid supplements for childbearing-age women.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Decrease of folic acid and cognitive alterations in patients with epilepsy treated with phenytoin or carbamazepine, pilot study].

INTRODUCTION: Phenytoin and carbamazepine were the antiepileptic drugs most frequently used in Mexico and throughout the world. Epileptic patients who take these drugs have a variety of collateral effects including the decrease of folates plasmatic level. Low seric folic acid concentration has been associated with a decline in cognitive functions. The administration of a combined treatment with folic acid could ameliorate these difficulties. OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of the folic acid in the cognitive function in epileptic patients who take phenytoin and carbamazepine. METHODS: We chose patient who have epilepsy and that are being treated with phenytoin, carbamazepine or both and formed two groups. The study group was treated with a daily dose of 5 mg of folic acid and the control group was administered placebo for a period of six months, with nine patients in each group of same age, sex, education level, epilepsy's evolution, frequency of seizures, EEG abnormalities and antiepileptic drugs plasma levels. We registered data at the beginning (basal) and at the end of the study. RESULTS: Measurements of basal folic acid plasma levels in both groups were under the referential value. The neuropsychological assessment at the beginning (Mini-Barcelona test) showed a deficit in the verbal memory skills in both groups. After six months of treatment with folic acid (study group), the folic acid plasma level was 12.2 mg/mL (p < 0.01) higher than the basal value. Verbal memory test has improved with respect to the basal value (p < 0.05). The numbers of seizures and the plasma levels of the antiepileptic drugs remained unchanged. On the other hand, the group treated with placebo did not improve. CONCLUSION: Treatment with folic acid is safe and without side effects, it improved the cognitive function in patients with epilepsy treated with phenytoin and carbamazepine.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Effects of dietary supplements of folic acid and rumen-protected methionine on lactational performance and folate metabolism of dairy cows.

The present experiment was undertaken to determine the interactions between dietary supplements of folic acid and rumen-protected methionine on lactational performance and on indicators of folate metabolism during one lactation. Fifty-four multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to 9 blocks of 6 cows each according to their previous milk production. Within each block, 3 cows were fed a diet calculated to supply methionine as 1.75% metabolizable protein, equivalent to 70% of methionine requirement, whereas the 3 other cows were fed the same diet supplemented with 18 g of a rumen-protected methionine supplement. Within each diet, the cows received 0, 3, or 6 mg/d of folic acid per kg of body weight. Rumen-protected methionine increased milk total solid concentration but not yield. Supplementary folic acid increased crude protein and casein concentrations in milk of cows fed no supplementary methionine and the effect increased as lactation progressed; it also decreased milk lactose concentration. Folic acid supplements had the opposite effects on milk crude protein, casein, and lactose concentrations in cows fed rumen-protected methionine. Milk and milk component yields and dry matter intake were unchanged. Folic acid supplementation increased serum folates and this response was greater at 8 wk of lactation. It decreased serum cysteine in cows fed rumen-protected methionine, whereas it had no effect in cows fed no supplementary methionine. The highest serum concentrations of cysteine but the lowest of vitamin B(12) were observed at 8 wk of lactation. Serum clearance of folic acid following an i.v. injection of folic acid was slower at 8 wk of lactation. During this period, the high concentrations of serum folates and cysteine, the low serum concentrations of vitamin B(12) and methionine, and the slow serum clearance of folates strongly suggest that the vitamin B(12) supply was inadequate and interfered with folate use. It could explain the limited lactational response to supplementary folic acid observed in the present experiment.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The use of pre-conceptional folic acid as an indicator of uptake of a health message amongst white and Bangladeshi women in Tower Hamlets, east London.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of folic acid is a simple health promotion message of proven effectiveness that is particularly pertinent to a young population with a high birth rate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare the uptake of a folic acid health message in two different ethnic groups. METHODS: Community antenatal teams in Tower Hamlets were asked to recruit women attending for a booking between October 1997 and July 1998 to the study. Tower Hamlets, in east London, is one of the poorest areas in England and Wales, with an ethnically diverse population. A questionnaire enquiring about age, employment, level of education, use of folic acid in their current pregnancy, understanding of the benefits of folic acid and self-described ethnic group was administered verbally immediately before the booking appointment to those women who agreed to participate. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were received on 249 women. Univariate analysis showed that white women were 5.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5, 13.2] times more likely to have taken folic acid supplements before conception than Bangladeshi women. Having controlled for the variables, age, school leaving age, social class, parity, planned pregnancy and 'heard of folic acid', ethnic status remained a significant predictor of taking folic acid, with the odds ratio dropping to 5.2 with a 95% CI (1.1, 25.2). CONCLUSION: The Bangladeshi community in the UK have been shown to have poor access to health information sources, which is consistent with the results of this survey, which shows that a simple and important message has not been acted upon equally by white and Bangladeshi women in east London. This survey lends support to the view that resources and innovative forms of health promotion are needed to ensure that ethnic minority groups have adequate access to health promotion messages.

Adult↗
PubMed1964

FOLIC ACID AND VITAMIN B12 LEVELS IN PREGNANCY AND THEIR RELATION TO MEGALOBLASTIC ANAEMIA.

There is a significant fall in the serum folic acid level during pregnancy, reaching its lowest level at term. This is most pronounced in twin pregnancies. A similar but less spectacular fall occurs in the vitamin B(12) concentration. In megaloblastic anaemia both folic acid and vitamin B(12) levels are lower than in other pregnant women. The degree of megaloblastic change in the bone marrow, as measured by the type and number of megaloblasts, is reflected in the vitamin levels, cases with florid megaloblastosis showing the most marked depression of vitamin B(12) and folic acid activity. Although there is a significant difference in the mean folic acid levels between megaloblastic and normoblastic pregnant women, a considerable overlap exists between individual values in the two groups. When the labile folic-acid factor is determined separately the test becomes much more specific. In the present series, all cases of megaloblastic anaemia yielded labile-factor levels below 1.0 mmug. per ml., while a similar value was encountered in only one of 35 normal pregnancies. In five women with megaloblastic anaemia the vitamin B(12) concentration was less than 100 mumug. per ml. but rose to normal levels on folic acid therapy alone.

Anemia↗
PubMed1999

[Periconceptual folic acid intake by Sicilian couples at a risk of recurrence of NTD].

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The authors aimed to evaluate the frequency with which pregnant Sicilian women with a high risk of recurring neural tube defects (NTD) attending the Ultrasonography and Prenatal Diagnosis Clinic in the Department of Diagnosis and Treatment at Ospedale S. Bambino in Catania were aware of the preventive effect of folic acid supplements during the periconceptional period and whether they therefore took folic acid supplements before the next pregnancy. METHODS: All pregnant women undergoing ultrasonography between January 1997 and December 1998 were interviewed. It was noted whether any earlier offspring had suffered from NTD or whether relatives (sisters, brothers, parents) had also suffered from the same experience. They were also asked whether they knew about the preventive effect of periconceptional folic acid supplements on the development of NTD, whether their pregnancy was planned and whether they had taken periconceptional folic acid supplements and, if so, at what dose. RESULTS: Eighteen couples were identified as being at risk for recurring NTD, in 3 cases owing to an earlier pregnancy resulting in NTD (2 cases of spina bifida and 1 case of anencephaly) with a negative family history for NTD; a further 15 couples showed a positive family history for NTD. None of the women were aware of the preventive effect of acid folic supplements during the periconceptional period on the development of NTD. Out of 11 programmed pregnancies, none of the pregnant women took folic acid during the periconceptional phase. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant Sicilian women at risk for recurring NTD interviewed by the authors were not aware of the possible prevention of NTD using folic acid supplements during the periconceptional phase.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Effects of dietary folic acid supplementation on cerebrovascular endothelial dysfunction in rats with induced hyperhomocysteinemia.

This study shows, for the first time, that hyperhomocysteinemia induces endothelial dysfunction in a rat brain, and that this can be alleviated by dietary folic acid supplementation. Our experiments examined the effects of folic acid supplementation on the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in the hyperhomocysteinemic rat brain, and related the observed changes in eNOS expression to the expression of the cell adhesion molecule and the glucose transporter protein. The animals were raised on an experimental diet containing 0.3% homocystine for 2 weeks and then they were placed either on a 0.3% homocystine, 0.3% homocystine with 8 mg/kg folic acid, or folic acid (8 mg/kg) diet for 2 weeks. The cerebrovascular eNOS activity was examined immunohistochemically. Cerebral levels of eNOS, glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), and the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. At 4 weeks, the homocystine diet induced a fourfold increase in plasma homocysteine (control: 6.5+/-0.4 micromol/l, homocystine: 26.2+/-2.5 micromol/l), and a reduction in the cerebral eNOS and GLUT-1 expression levels with a concomitant increase in the level of VCAM-1 expression. Dietary folic acid supplementation caused a significant decrease in the plasma homocysteine levels, a concomitant increase in the hyperhomocysteinemia-induced reduction in the cerebral eNOS and GLUT-1 expression levels, and a decrease in the hyperhomocysteinemia-induced VCAM-1 expression levels.

Animals↗