The importance of folic acid for the health of the human body A well-balanced diet is undoubtedly a key factor to maintain your body's normal state of health. Folic acid is one of the elements of the diet, which is often supplied in insufficient quantities. This vitamin and its derivatives participate in the metabolism of amino acids and nucleic acids. Therefore, it is necessary for the proper functioning of the body's cells and for maintaining homeostasis, especially of the nervous, circulatory and cardiovascular systems. The biological activity of folic acid and its derivatives essentially affects the metabolism of important amino acids, such as methionine, homocysteine, serine, glycine, pyrimidine and purine synthesis and DNA methylation. The synthetic form of folic acid (most oxidized), which can be found in fortified foods, dietary supplements or pharmaceuticals, does not show biological activity. It is transformed in a series of reactions with the participation of many enzymes to form folates, which differ in the number of glutamic acid residues and the degree of oxidation. The actively biological form is reduced folate (L-5-MTHF), which is transported together with the blood to cells where it undergoes biological processes important for our health. The MTHFR gene, coding for the enzyme protein of the same namemethylene tetrahydrofolate reductase, is located on chromosome 1 at the 1p36.3 locus. This protein is responsible for the catalysis of the enzymatic reaction, which is the reduction of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, i.e. the active form of folate. This form is necessary in the process of homocysteine degradation, in the aftermath remethylation to methionine. This form is necessary in the process of homocysteine degradation, in the aftermath remethylation to methionine. However, according to available literature, mutation of the MTHFR 677C> T gene occurs in even 53% of the population. Among carriers of the TT genotype, it can cause about 70% reduction of MTHFR reductase activity. It is especially dangerous for people who do not provide adequate amounts of folic acid along with their diet and for those who need a high amount of this vitamin, e.g. due to taking medications that reduce its absorption. Many people metabolize folic acid on insufficient levels. For medical reasons, not the mutation itself is a problem, but too low the folate levels. In recent years, there is more and more discussion about the active form of folic acid and the possibility of effective supplementation with Adres do korespondencji
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