Korean J Nutr.  2003 Oct;36(8):811-818.

Effects of Dietary Folate Supplementation on the Homocystine Diet-Induced Hyperhomocysteinemia and Hepatic S-Adenosylmethionine Metabolism in Rats

• Kim JM
• Lee HY
• Chang N

Abstract

We investigated the effects of dietary folate supplementation on plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12 and hepatic levels of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) in diet-induced hyperhomocysteinemic rats. All animals were fed 0.3% homocysteine diet for 2 weeks, then they were placed either on a 0.3% homocystine or no homocystine with or without 8 mg/kg folate diet for 8 weeks. Homocystine diet induced hyperhomocysteinemia up to 3.5-fold at 10 weeks (28.0+/-4.8 micromol/l vs. 7.9+/-0.3 micromol/l). Dietary folate supplementation caused a significant decrease in plasma homocysteine levels which had been increased by a homocystine-diet. Also, dietary folate supplementation made them return to control levels at 4 wk when the diet was free of homocystine. Plasma folate levels were markedly decreased with homocystine diet with no folate supplementation. Plasma vitamin B12 did not differ between groups. Dietary homocystine increased hepatic levels of SAM in folate supplementation group at 10 weeks (p<0.05). Dietary folate supplementation increased hepatic levels of SAM/SAH ratios in homocystine group (p<0.05). In conclusion, dietary folate supplementation can effectively ameliorate the detrimental effects of hyperhomocysteinemia.mia.

Keyword

hyperhomocysteinemia; folate; S-adenosylmethionine (SAM); S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH)

MeSH Terms

Animals
Diet
Folic Acid*
Homocysteine
Homocystine*
Hyperhomocysteinemia*
Metabolism*
Plasma
Rats*
S-Adenosylhomocysteine
S-Adenosylmethionine*
Vitamin B 12
Folic Acid
Homocysteine
Homocystine
S-Adenosylhomocysteine
S-Adenosylmethionine
Vitamin B 12