Week 7: Folate

Question 1

What is folic acid?

Answer 1

oxidized form of folate, found in fortification, highly absorbed (synthetic)

Question 2

1 DFE is equivalent to how much folate and folic acid?

Answer 2

1 DFE= 1ug folate= 0.6ug folic acid

Question 3

1 ug of folic acid is equivalent to how much DFE?

Answer 3

1 ug folic acid = 1.7 DFE

Question 4

What is folate deficiency caused by?

Answer 4

-insufficient intake
-blockages at any stage of absorption
-genetic polymorphism
- drugs (limit uptake/metabolism)
-gastric damage/failure to recycle folic acid
-lack of B12

Question 5

What are the functions of folate?

Answer 5

-DNA synthesis: Purines, pyrimidines
-Nucleotide production (adenine,
guanine)
- gene expression
- cell growth/differentiation (RBCs)

Question 6

What are folate deficiencies caused by?

Answer 6

-insufficient intake
-blockages at stage of absorption
-genetic polymorphisms may limit uptake/conversion to active form
-interactions that limit uptake/metabolism (drugs)
-gastric damage, failure to recycle folic acid
-not enough B12 for uptake to cell

Question 7

folate absorption requires the modification via?

Answer 7

CH3 and B12

Question 8

What three things work together to lower homocysteine levels in blood?

Answer 8

vitamin B6, B12, folate

Question 9

high levels of homocysteine increase risk of?

Answer 9

cardiovascular disease

Question 10

How does vitamin B6 help lower homocysteine levels?

Answer 10

by helping to convert it to cysteine

Question 11

What is folate’s role in lowering homocysteine levels?

Answer 11

folate is reconverted back to methyl folate by an enzyme that requires vitamin B6 as a cofactor

Question 12

How does folate and vitamin B12 work together to lower homocysteine levels?

Answer 12

converting it to methionine
achieved by transfer of methyl group from methyl folate to vitamin B12 forming methyl-B12
Then methyl-B12 transfers methyl group to homocysteine converting it to methionine

Question 13

What is the only difference between folate and folic acid in terms of chemical structure?

Answer 13

glutamate amino acid (number of)

Question 14

How many glutamates in supplement form for folic acid?

Answer 14

one

Question 15

Which form of folate can be absorbed?

Answer 15

only folic acid can be absorbed in body;
SI removes all glutamic acids from folate
therefore, food form less absorbed than supplements

Question 16

What are the two kinds of NTD?

Answer 16

50% spina bifida
50% anencephaly