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Folate, vitamin B12 and Homocysteine status in the post-folic acid fortification era in different subgroups of the Brazilian population attended to at a public health care center.
Nutr J. 2015 Feb 19; 14:19.NJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Folate and vitamin B12 are essential nutrients, whose deficiencies are considerable public health problems worldwide, affecting all age groups. Low levels of these vitamins have been associated with high concentrations of homocysteine (Hcy) and can lead to health complications. Several genetic polymorphisms affect the metabolism of these vitamins. The aims of this study were to assess folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine status in distinct Brazilian individuals after the initiation of folic acid fortification by Brazilian authorities and to investigate the effects of RFC1 A80G, GCPII C1561T and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms on folate, vitamin B12 and Hcy levels in these populations.

METHODS

A total of 719 individuals including the elderly, children, as well as pregnant and lactating women were recruited from our health care center. Folate, vitamin B12 and Hcy levels were measured by conventional methods. Genotype analyses of RFC1 A80G, GCPII C1561T and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were performed by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies were 0.3% and 4.9%, respectively. Folate deficiency was observed only in the elderly (0.4%) and pregnant women (0.3%), whereas vitamin B12 deficiency was observed mainly in pregnant women (7.9%) and the elderly (4.2%). Plasma Hcy concentrations were significantly higher in the elderly (33.6%). Pregnant women carrying the MTHFR 677TT genotype showed lower serum folate levels (p = 0.042) and higher Hcy levels (p = 0.003). RFC1 A80G and GCPII C1561T polymorphisms did not affect folate and Hcy levels in the study group. After a multivariate analysis, Hcy levels were predicted by variables such as folate, vitamin B12, gender, age and RFC1 A80G polymorphism, according to the groups studied.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that folate deficiency is practically nonexistent in the post-folic acid fortification era in the subgroups evaluated. However, screening for vitamin B12 deficiency may be particularly relevant in our population, especially in the elderly.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Barnabé A
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming, 105, Campinas, SP, 13083-881, Brazil. a_line00@hotmail.com.
Aléssio AC
Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas, Rua Carlos Chagas, 480, Campinas, SP, 13083-878, Brazil. analessio@bol.com.br.
Bittar LF
Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas, Rua Carlos Chagas, 480, Campinas, SP, 13083-878, Brazil. lfbskayer@hotmail.com.
de Moraes Mazetto B
Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas, Rua Carlos Chagas, 480, Campinas, SP, 13083-878, Brazil. brunamazetto_1@hotmail.com.
Bicudo AM
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, SP, 13083-887, Brazil. angelicabicudo@gmail.com.
de Paula EV
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming, 105, Campinas, SP, 13083-881, Brazil. erich@unicamp.br.
Höehr NF
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Rua Alexander Fleming, 105, Campinas, SP, 13083-881, Brazil. nelci@fcm.unicamp.br.
Annichino-Bizzacchi JM
Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas, Rua Carlos Chagas, 480, Campinas, SP, 13083-878, Brazil. joyce@unicamp.br.

MeSH

AdolescentAdultAge FactorsAgedAged, 80 and overBrazilCarboxypeptidasesChildChild, PreschoolFemaleFolic AcidFolic Acid DeficiencyHomocysteineHumansInfantLactationMaleMethylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)Middle AgedPolymerase Chain ReactionPolymorphism, Restriction Fragment LengthPregnancyPrevalenceReduced Folate Carrier ProteinRisk FactorsSex FactorsVitamin B 12Vitamin B 12 DeficiencyYoung Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

25886278

Citation

Barnabé, Aline, et al. "Folate, Vitamin B12 and Homocysteine Status in the Post-folic Acid Fortification Era in Different Subgroups of the Brazilian Population Attended to at a Public Health Care Center." Nutrition Journal, vol. 14, 2015, p. 19.
Barnabé A, Aléssio AC, Bittar LF, et al. Folate, vitamin B12 and Homocysteine status in the post-folic acid fortification era in different subgroups of the Brazilian population attended to at a public health care center. Nutr J. 2015;14:19.
Barnabé, A., Aléssio, A. C., Bittar, L. F., de Moraes Mazetto, B., Bicudo, A. M., de Paula, E. V., Höehr, N. F., & Annichino-Bizzacchi, J. M. (2015). Folate, vitamin B12 and Homocysteine status in the post-folic acid fortification era in different subgroups of the Brazilian population attended to at a public health care center. Nutrition Journal, 14, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-015-0006-3
Barnabé A, et al. Folate, Vitamin B12 and Homocysteine Status in the Post-folic Acid Fortification Era in Different Subgroups of the Brazilian Population Attended to at a Public Health Care Center. Nutr J. 2015 Feb 19;14:19. PubMed PMID: 25886278.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Folate, vitamin B12 and Homocysteine status in the post-folic acid fortification era in different subgroups of the Brazilian population attended to at a public health care center. AU - Barnabé,Aline, AU - Aléssio,Ana Cláudia Morandi, AU - Bittar,Luis Fernando, AU - de Moraes Mazetto,Bruna, AU - Bicudo,Angélica M, AU - de Paula,Erich V, AU - Höehr,Nelci Fenalti, AU - Annichino-Bizzacchi,Joyce M, Y1 - 2015/02/19/ PY - 2014/10/14/received PY - 2015/2/9/accepted PY - 2015/4/18/entrez PY - 2015/4/18/pubmed PY - 2016/1/20/medline SP - 19 EP - 19 JF - Nutrition journal JO - Nutr J VL - 14 N2 - BACKGROUND: Folate and vitamin B12 are essential nutrients, whose deficiencies are considerable public health problems worldwide, affecting all age groups. Low levels of these vitamins have been associated with high concentrations of homocysteine (Hcy) and can lead to health complications. Several genetic polymorphisms affect the metabolism of these vitamins. The aims of this study were to assess folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine status in distinct Brazilian individuals after the initiation of folic acid fortification by Brazilian authorities and to investigate the effects of RFC1 A80G, GCPII C1561T and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms on folate, vitamin B12 and Hcy levels in these populations. METHODS: A total of 719 individuals including the elderly, children, as well as pregnant and lactating women were recruited from our health care center. Folate, vitamin B12 and Hcy levels were measured by conventional methods. Genotype analyses of RFC1 A80G, GCPII C1561T and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were performed by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies were 0.3% and 4.9%, respectively. Folate deficiency was observed only in the elderly (0.4%) and pregnant women (0.3%), whereas vitamin B12 deficiency was observed mainly in pregnant women (7.9%) and the elderly (4.2%). Plasma Hcy concentrations were significantly higher in the elderly (33.6%). Pregnant women carrying the MTHFR 677TT genotype showed lower serum folate levels (p = 0.042) and higher Hcy levels (p = 0.003). RFC1 A80G and GCPII C1561T polymorphisms did not affect folate and Hcy levels in the study group. After a multivariate analysis, Hcy levels were predicted by variables such as folate, vitamin B12, gender, age and RFC1 A80G polymorphism, according to the groups studied. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that folate deficiency is practically nonexistent in the post-folic acid fortification era in the subgroups evaluated. However, screening for vitamin B12 deficiency may be particularly relevant in our population, especially in the elderly. SN - 1475-2891 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/25886278/Folate_vitamin_B12_and_Homocysteine_status_in_the_post_folic_acid_fortification_era_in_different_subgroups_of_the_Brazilian_population_attended_to_at_a_public_health_care_center_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -