The role of folate in health :
A snapshot
Bradley McEwen | PhD , MHSc ( Hum Nutr ), BHSc , ND ( Adv ), DBM , DNutr , DSM , M . ATMS , Naturopath , Nutritionist , and Mentor . Adjunct Senior Lecturer , School of Health and Human Sciences , Southern Cross University .
Abstract
Folate is an essential water-soluble vitamin . It is a group of vitamins that includes folic acid , folinic acid and the active form methylfolate ( calcium-l-methylfolate and ( 6S ) -5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid glucosamine ). Folate is essential for normal healthy growth and development , plays a critical role in cell growth and division , synthesising DNA , RNA , and proteins , and is required for critical enzymatic reactions , among other functions . Some of the symptoms of folate deficiency include megaloblastic anaemia , peripheral neuropathy , cardiovascular disease , hyperhomocysteinaemia , depression , and cognitive dysfunction and decline . A 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR ) polymorphism affects folate metabolism and represents a potential risk factor for numerous diseases , such as cardiovascular disease , hyperhomocysteinaemia , pregnancy complications , infertility , and depression . This snapshot aims to introduce some of the functions and deficiency states of folate . Additionally , it introduces MTHFR polymorphism .
Introduction
Optimum nutrition is the foundation for optimum health . 1 , 2 The B vitamins comprise a group of water-soluble vitamins that include thiamine ( vitamin B1 ), riboflavin ( vitamin B2 ), niacin ( an umbrella term for niacinamide , nicotinamide , nicotinic acid and vitamin B3 ), pantothenic acid ( vitamin B5 ), pyridoxine ( vitamin B6 ), folate ( folic acid , folinic acid , methyltetrahydrofolate ( MTHF )), and cobalamin ( vitamin B12 ). The B vitamins perform essential , closely interrelated roles in cellular functioning , and act as coenzymes in a vast collection of catabolic and anabolic enzymatic reactions . 3 B vitamins have a synergistic effect on each other . 3 , 4 An example of this synergy is how a vitamin B2 ( riboflavin ) deficiency affects the metabolism of other nutrients , especially other B vitamins . 5 Vitamin B2 is the precursor of flavin mononucleotide ( FMN ) and flavin adenine dinucleotide ( FAD ) that function as cofactors for methionine synthase reductase and 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR ),
respectively . 6 Vitamin B6 is a cofactor for the serine hydroxymethyltransferase ( SHMT ) that supports the role of folate in thymidylate synthesis . 6 The role of 5-MTHF in delivering methionine and S-adenosylmethionine ( SAMe ) is vitamin B12-dependent . 6 Vitamin B complexes and multivitamins have the potential to reduce or eliminate deficiencies of nutrients that affect folate metabolism . 6 Folate , vitamin B6 , and vitamin B12 are utilised for the metabolism of homocysteine . 5 Low folate intake or abnormalities of folate metabolism , as well as vitamin B6 or B12 deficiency , cause elevation of homocysteine . 7 Elevated homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases . 7
Folate is an essential water-soluble vitamin . 8 It is a group of vitamins that includes folic acid , folinic acid 9 and the active form methylfolate ( calcium‐l‐methylfolate 10 and ( 6S ) ‐5‐methyltetrahydrofolic acid glucosamine 10 ). Folate is essential for normal healthy growth and development , 11 plays a critical role in cell growth and division , 6 the synthesis of DNA , 8 , 11-13 RNA , and proteins , 11 and is required for critical enzymatic reactions , 14 among other functions . Some of the symptoms of folate deficiency include megaloblastic anaemia . 7 peripheral neuropathy , 14 cardiovascular diseases , 11 6 , 11 , 12
hyperhomocysteinaemia , depression , 6 and cognitive dysfunction and decline 11 . 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR ) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of folate . 15 An MTHFR polymorphism represents a potential risk factor for numerous health conditions and diseases , such as cardiovascular disease , 15-17 hyperhomocysteinaemia , 15 , 17 , 18 pregnancy complications , 15 , 19 infertility , 15 and depression 20-22 . This snapshot aims to introduce some of the functions and deficiency states of folate . Additionally , it introduces 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR ) polymorphism .
24 | vol29 | no1 | JATMS