Folic acid supplementation in pregnancy and implications in health and disease

Abstract

Maternal exposure to dietary factors during pregnancy can influence embryonic development and may modulate the phenotype of offspring through epigenetic programming. Folate is critical for nucleotide synthesis, and preconceptional intake of dietary folic acid (FA) is credited with reduced incidences of neural tube defects in infants. While fortification of grains with FA resulted in a positive public-health outcome, concern has been raised for the need for further investigation of unintended consequences and potential health hazards arising from excessive FA intakes, especially following reports that FA may exert epigenetic effects. The objective of this article is to discuss the role of FA in human health and to review the benefits, concerns and epigenetic effects of maternal FA on the basis of recent findings that are important to design future studies.

Folate, vitamin B12, ferritin and haemoglobin levels among women of childbearing age from a rural district in South India

“…Several reviews and guidelines have prescribed dosage for folic acid supplementation but there are no dosages identified for vitamin B12 supplementation [5]. Even at the prescribed dosages, monitoring of the consequences of folic acid and vitamin B12 intake are required to measure harmful effects of these at high concentrations [5,49].…”

Possible biochemical mechanisms involved in beneficial and adverse effects of folates

“…Исследования полиморфизма генов, кодирующих фолатзависимые белки, в частности, DHFR [5,7,27], выявили весьма интересные закономерности в отноше-нии взаимодействия фолиевой кислоты со множеством генов, продукты экспрессии которых ответственны за ее биохимические превращения. Показано, что в определенных ситуациях, в частности, под влия-нием определенных диетических факторов, указанные процессы могут способствовать развитию патологии.…”

Women with Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphism and the Need for Proper Periconceptional Folate Supplementation

“…1) and includes THF (tetrahydrofolate), 5-10-methylene-THF (5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate), L-5-methyl-THF (L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate) and 10-formyl-THF (10-formyltetrahydrofolate). The 10-formyl-THF and 5-10-methylene-THF are used in the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines, respectively while the L-5-methyl-THF serves as a methyl donor in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine [7,8]. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate and is the most oxidized form.…”