Folic Acid Flashcards
(31 cards)
What is the difference between natural folates and folic acid?
Natural folates are reduced molecules, whereas folic acid is fully oxidised
Explain folates
In the diet, folates exist as polyglutamates and need to be enzymatically converted into folate monoglutamates by folate reductase in the jejunal mucosa in order to be absorbed
How dos food folates can be expected during food processing?
In vegetables, up to 40% of folates can be destroyed by cooking and in grains/cereals, up to 70% of folates can be destroyed by milling and baking
Folate vitamins group is composed of three major subunits:
pteridine, p-aminobenzoic acid, and glutamic acid.
How does polyglutamates form?
Glutamate residues bind the molecule by peptide linkages to form the polyglutamates
The term “Folic Acid” is used to indicate the parent compound:
pteroyglutamic acid
Folate is used generically to indicate one or a mixture of:
pteroylglutamates
Explain folic acid
is a B9 Vitamin. It s called folate when it is found in foods (leafy green vegetables) in its natural form
Explain “Folic Acid”
It is the synthetic form used in supplements or added to food
Name some folate-riched foods:
Chicken liver
Fortified breakfast cereal
Soy flour
Beef liver
Chickpeas
Pinto beans
Spinach (boiled)
Lima beans
Papaya
Avocado
What is the RDA for Vitamins B?
- B9 400ug
- B6 200ug
- B12 6ug
What is the RNI for folate for adults and children >11 years old?
0.2mg/day
What is the RMI for folate during pregnancy and lactation?
-Pregnancy increment of 0.1 mg/day (0.3mg/day)
-Lactation increment of 0.06 mg/day (0.26mg/day)
What is the recommendation of folic acid intake for women who could become pregnant?
0.4 mg/day in addition to normal dietary folate intake, and until 12th week of pregnancy
What is the recommendation of folic acid intake for women at risk of a neural tube defect (NTD)-affected pregnancy?
An additional dose of 5mg/day
Explain the 2 types of “Neural Tube Defects”
- Spina bifida: paralysis, learning disabilities
- Anencephaly: die shortly after birth
Where is the main storage site of folate?
Liver, containing approximately half of the total (5-10 mg) body folate
Within the cells, folate is retained in the ______ by polyglutamation
cytoplasm
The majority of plasma folate is present as:
5-methyl-THR-monoglutamate
What is a short-term indicator of folate status?
Serum folate, within the range of 5-16 ng/mL
What reflects a long term of folate intake?
Red blood cells, levels <140ng/mL indicate reduced body stores
What are the consequences of folate deficiency?
Reduced de novo DNA biosynthesis and thus, impairment of cell replication. The condition causes megaloblastic and macrocytic anaemia (cells are unable to divide)
Which other deficiency causes macrocytic megaloblastic anaemia?
Vitamin B12
What is required for the formation of healthy normal red blood cells?
Vitamin B9
