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Supplemental versus dietary folates: effects on folate status and indicators of vascular function in healthy volunteers

Reference	BBS/E/F/00042237
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Mr Paul Finglas
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	433,104
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2005
End date	31/03/2010
Duration	60 months

Abstract

Folates are naturally occurring water-soluble B vitamins that are present in a wide variety of foods. An adequate intake of folate is vital for cell division and DNA synthesis. Folate deficiency has been associated with increase risks of neural tube defects (NTDs), CVD and cancer. The relationship of folate status with CVD and cancer is complex, and is likely to be influenced by human genotype at several loci that determine folate metabolism. Folates that occur in foods such as spinach are polyglutamated. Prior to absorption of dietary folate polyglutamates are converted to monoglutamates, transported into the plasma and absorbed into cells and tissues where the polyglutamate chain, comprising of 2 - 9 glutamate residues, is restored. The liver comprises a major store of folate polyglyutamates, which may be mobilised, via deconjugation, when required. An increasingly common source of dietary folate is folic acid; a synthetic, stable, and oxidized form of the vitamin that often is present in dietary supplements and fortified foods. Folic acid contains only a single glutamate, and exhibits greater bioavailability than naturally occurring folate. Once transported into cells, folic acid is converted to tetrahydrofolate, a form chemically identical to natural food folates. The folate research project has two main aims. Firstly, to study the effect of folate and folic acid intake, either within foods or as supplements on folate status. This includes the effect of human polymorphism at several loci, including 5-methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677CT, MTHFR A1298C, methionine synthase (MTR) A2756G and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) A66G, and elucidating the relative roles of absorptive mucosal membrane and the liver in folate metabolism. Secondly, to assess the relationship between folate status and biomarkers of cardiovascular health. This involves a large multicentre intervention study.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	Ageing, Diet and Health
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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