Award details

Kinetic investigation of folate absorption using stable isotopes

Reference	BBS/E/F/02300973
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Mr Paul Finglas
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	29,031
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	17/03/1998
Duration	11 months

Abstract

Periconceptual ingestion of folic acid can significantly reduce the incidence of spina bifida and other neural tube defects. In addition, folates play an important role in reducing plasma homocysteine, which is an emerging risk factor for vascular diseases. However, there is only limited information about occurrence of different folate forms in food and the factors that influence their absorption from the diet.The use of stable isotopes to study folate absorption and metabolism is state of the art. The current project will characterize the dynamics of absorption and metabolism of labelled folates in intact human volunteers following oral ingestion of 13C-labelled folic acid (the form used for fortification) or 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (one of the major naturally-occurring forms), and i.v. injection of 2H-folate. Isotope ratios of plasma and erythrocyte folate will be determined by GC-MS following liquid chromatographic fractionation of the samples and derivatization. Isotope ratios will be used as an index of absorption. The results from the project will be used to help formulate more reliable recommendations on folate requirements.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
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

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search