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PubMed1965

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BIOTIN AND VITAMIN B12. EFFECTS OF BIOTIN AND VITAMIN B12 ON FOLIC ACID METABOLISM.

1. The effects of dietary biotin compared with vitamin B(12) on the total content and on the distribution of the various folate derivatives in the liver of rats given a biotin-free diet have been studied. The effect of both vitamins on the conversion in vitro of folic acid into citrovorum factor in the same experimental conditions was also examined. 2. In biotin-treated rats as well as in vitamin B(12)-treated rats the total content of folic acid-active substances measured microbiologically by Pediococcus cerevisiae, Streptococcus faecalis and Lactobacillus casei is significantly higher than that in biotin-deficient rats. The liver distribution of various folate derivatives in the three groups of animals is also markedly modified. 3. The amount of citrovorum factor formed in systems with liver homogenate of rats receiving biotin or vitamin B(12) is higher than that with liver homogenates of deficient rats. 4. The results obtained demonstrate the influence of biotin in the metabolism of folic acid, and the similar actions at this level of both biotin and vitamin B(12). These results are discussed in relation to the participation of the two vitamins in the metabolism of C(1) units, as a biochemical interpretation of the relationships between vitamin B(12) and biotin.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Improvement in cervical dysplasia associated with folic acid therapy in users of oral contraceptives.

Forty-seven young women with mild or moderate dysplasia of the uterine cervix (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) diagnosed by cervical smears, received oral supplements of folic acid, 10 mg, or a placebo (ascorbic acid, 10 mg) daily for 3 months under double-blind conditions. All had used a combination-type oral contraceptive agent for at least 6 months and continued it while returning monthly for follow-up examinations. All smears and a biopsy obtained at the end of the trial period were classified by a single observer without knowledge of treatment status using an arbitrary scoring system (1 normal, 2 mild, 3 moderate, 4 severe, 5 carcinoma in situe). Mean biopsy scores from folate supplemented subjects were significantly better than in folate-unsupplemented subjects (2.28 versus 2.92, respectively; p less than 0.05). Final versus initial cytology scores were also significantly better in supplemented subjects (1.95 versus 2.32, respectively; p less than 0.05), unchanged in patients receiving the placebo (2.27 versus 2.30, respectively). Before treatment the mean red cell folate concentration was lower among oral contraceptive agent users than nonusers (189 versus 269 ng/ml, respectively; p less than 0.01) and even lower among users with dysplasia (161 versus 269 ng/ml, respectively; p less than 0.001). Morphological features of megaloblastosis were associated with dysplasia and also improved in folate supplemented subjects. These studies indicate that either a reversible, localized derangement in folate metabolism may sometimes be misdiagnosed as cervical dysplasia, or else such a derangement is an integral component of the dysplastic process that may be arrested or in some cases reversed by oral folic acid supplementation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Comparison of folic acid coenzyme distribution patterns in patients with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine synthetase deficiencies.

Folic acid coenzyme distribution patterns were examined in the liver and kidney of two patients with homocystinuria due to different inborn errors of metabolism affecting the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. One patient, with severe mental retardation (and death at 3 1/2 yr), had greatly reduced levels of methylenetetrahydrofolic acid (THF) reductase in fibroblasts as well as in liver and kidney. Chromatographic separation of folate coenzymes in liver showed an abnormal pattern with THF as the main component and almost no methyl-THF but total folate was normal. The other patient, who was dystrophic, microcephalic, and had megaloblastic anemia died at age 4 months. He had reduced levels of methionine synthetase in liver and kidney due to a defect of intracellular cobalamin metabolism. Chromatographic analysis of his tissues showed methyl-THF to be the principal folate form and a markedly reduced total folate. These results support the "methyl-THF trap" hypothesis and offer information with respect to the possible therapy of these two disorders.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltran↗
PubMed2002

Comparative evaluation of co-processed lactose and microcrystalline cellulose with their physical mixtures in the formulation of folic acid tablets.

In this study, a new co-processed filler-binder ingredient for direct compression, MicroceLac 100, was compared with three different lactoses mixed with microcrystalline cellulose. The aim was to improve a folic acid tablet formulation. Therefore, the influence of drug addition to these mixtures was studied with regard to flow and binding properties. Another part of the study was focused on the interaction and segregation behavior of the drug. MicroceLac 100 showed superior flow and binding properties. Good adhesion of folic acid to the MicroceLac 100 particles could decrease demixing and segregation. The improved characteristics of co-processed material are attributed to spray drying. Sodium stearyl fumarate was chosen as a lubricant, based on ejection force measurements. The content uniformity of the newly formulated direct compression tablets met the official requirements.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed2002

Toward better compliance with iron-folic acid supplements: understanding the behavior of poor urban pregnant women through ethnographic decision models in Vadodara, India.

This study made an attempt to develop ethnographic decision models to understand and improve iron-folic acid supplement procurement and compliance-related behaviors of poor urban pregnant women in Vadodara, India, based on data obtained through the use of qualitative research tools. Open-ended, in-depth interviews were conducted with 36 pregnant women (17-32 weeks of gestation) purposively selected from four urban slums. Fortnightly home visits were made to the houses of 20 pregnant women-family member pairs to elicit behaviors related to iron-folic acid supplement procurement and compliance at the household level, from which the ethnographic decision models were developed. The hemoglobin levels of these women were also assessed. Regular counseling until delivery, based on the ethnographic data, helped to improve compliance, which resulted in 95% of the women consuming over 90% of the required dose. The mean hemoglobin level also improved from 9.6 to 11.08 g/dl until the end of the last trimester. This study highlighted the need for qualitative ethnographic data to develop such models that would help in the understanding of specific behaviors that influence program acceptance. Such data would have policy-level implications, for example, developing appropriate information-education-communication material and counseling strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Folic acid conjugase from plasma. III. Use of the enzyme in the estimation of folate activity in foods.

A convenient method for the estimation of food folates using human plasma as a source of folic acid conjugase has been standardized. Bovine, goat and dog plasma could not be used for the purpose because of low enzyme activity and slow reaction rates. Human plasma conjugase released food folates from conjugated forms over a pH range of 4.5 to 6.0. The food folate values obtained by employing rat liver and chicken pancreas conjugase closely agreed with the values obtained by using human plasma conjugase. The advantages in using human plasma as a source of conjugase were (1) easy availability (2) non-essentiality of preliminary processing (3) stability of the enzyme on storing plasma in cold (4) low enzyme blank folate activity and (5) low amount of plasma needed for assay. Using this method, folic acid activity of some common Indian foods of plant and animal origin has been estimated. There were wide variations in the folate activity of different classes of foods. In general legumes and green leafy vegetables were found to be rich in folate activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Vitamin B 12 and folic acid serum levels in diabetics under various therapeutic regimens.

The aim of the present study was to reconsider the problem of the haematological consequences of biguanide treatment by evaluating serum vitamin B 12 and folic acid levels as well as classical haematological parameters in 30 diabetics treated by metformin. For purpose of comparison, similar evaluations were done in diabetics treated with insulin (27 patients) or sulfonylureas (13 patients). Results indicated that mean serum levels of vitamin B 12 were significantly lower in patients receiving metformin than in both other groups. In the metformin-treated group, five patients had serum levels of vitamin B 12 below 270 pg/ml and five had borderline values. No difference was found in the mean serum folic acid levels between the three groups. Similarly, there were no differences in the red blood cell counts, volumes or haemoglogin concentrations nor in the mean values of serum iron and lacticodeshydrogenase levels between the three groups. Since the haematologic and neurologic complications of vitamin B 12 deficiency may only appear after the deficiency had existed for 10-15 years, the lack of haematological alteration may be explained by the fact that the vitamin B 12 deficiency was not present for a sufficient period of time. We conclude that it may be wise to monitor the haematological values as well as vitamin B 12 levels at regular intervals in diabetic patients treated with metformin so that B 12 hypovitaminosis and its complications can be prevented.

Diabetes Mellitus↗
PubMed1971

Use of the 'Analmatic clinical system' in the microbiological assay of vitamin B 12 and folic acid in serum.

The routine estimation of large numbers of serum folic acid and vitamin B(12) levels using the Baird and Tatlock(1) Analmatic clinical system is described and the method evaluated.Precision, accuracy, and carryover are shown to be at acceptable levels, and the advantages and disadvantages of the use of the system are discussed. It is considered that with some modifications the Analmatic system offers a reliable and labour-saving method of carrying out considerable numbers of routine microbiological assays.

Autoanalysis↗
PubMed1994

Deranged folic acid metabolism in diabetes-induced rats.

Metabolic changes in the folic acid and their conjugated polyglutamyl derivatives have been studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Conjugated folates which constituted about 70% in normal rat liver get rapidly hydrolysed to simple unconjugated forms as the diabetes progressed leaving behind only 2% after 25 days of the onset of diabetes. Chromatographic analysis shows significant alterations in the formyl- and methyltetrahydrofolate derivatives and their polyglutamylation profiles. A 7-8 fold higher urinary excretion of mainly methyltetrahydrofolate is also observed in diabetic rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Recommendations for the use of folic acid to reduce the number of cases of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.

Spina bifida and anencephaly are common and serious birth defects. Available evidence indicates that 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) per day of folic acid, one of the B vitamins, will reduce the number of cases of neural tube defects (NTDs). In order to reduce the frequency of NTDs and their resulting disability, the United States Public Health Service recommends that: All women of childbearing age in the United States who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume 0.4 mg of folic acid per day for the purpose of reducing their risk of having a pregnancy affected with spina bifida or other NTDs. Because the effects of higher intakes are not well known but include complicating the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency, care should be taken to keep total folate consumption at less than 1 mg per day, except under the supervision of a physician. Women who have had a prior NTD-affected pregnancy are at high risk of having a subsequent affected pregnancy. When these women are planning to become pregnant, they should consult their physicians for advice.

Anencephaly↗
PubMed2001

Efficient gene delivery via non-covalent complexes of folic acid and polyethylenimine.

Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a cationic polymer capable of delivering DNA molecules into cultured mammalian cells as charge complexes. The application of PEI polyplexes in gene therapy, however, is hampered by the sensitivity of its transfection activity to the presence of serum. We found that folic acid, in a variety of cell lines, significantly enhanced PEI-mediated transfection activity in the presence of serum, whether the folic acid was added during or after PEI/DNA polyplex formation. The increase in activity could not be produced with other anionic compounds such as cholic acid, citric acid, EDTA, or glutamic acid. This novel formulation provides a reliable, low-cost, and highly efficient method for delivery of genes and may have applications in gene therapy.

DNA↗
PubMed1996

Knowledge and use of periconceptual folic acid supplements by British Forces Germany personnel and dependents.

Periconceptual dietary folic acid supplementation reduces the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs). Their use has been advocated by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the Consultant Advisor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G), the Senior Consultant in O&G British Forces in Germany (BFG) and by Medical Administration & Technical Instruction (MA&TI) in all NAAFI outlets. An audit of awareness of the recommendations and use of such supplements amongst pregnant women in BFG was performed over a 12 week period in BMH Rinteln. 16.6% (5/6) and 17.6% (34/193) of those with and without a history of a pregnancy affected by a NTD respectively had taken the correct dose before conception. Knowledge of and compliance with the recommendations is poor. An opportunity to positively influence health in a "captive" population is being lost.

Female↗