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Modulation of folate uptake in cultured human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells by dietary compounds

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Abstract

Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin with a crucial role in the synthesis and methylation of DNA and in the metabolism of several amino acids. In the present study we investigated whether beverages like wine, beer and tea, or some of their specific constituents, affect the intestinal uptake of 3H-folic acid or 3H-methotrexate (an antifolate). All tested beverages significantly inhibited the uptake of 3H-folic acid by Caco-2 cells. Most of these beverages, with the exception of wines (not tested), also inhibited 3H-methotrexate uptake in these cells. Additionally, ethanol, when tested separately, inhibited the uptake of both compounds. Some of the tested phenolic compounds, namely myricetin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and isoxanthohumol, markedly inhibited 3H-folic acid uptake. Myricetin and EGCG also had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect upon the uptake of 3H-methotrexate by Caco-2 cells. Resveratrol, quercetin and kaempferol were able to inhibit the transport of both compounds, but only in the concentration of 100 µM. In conclusion, dietary constituents may impact on intestinal folate uptake, as here shown for phenolic compounds.

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Abbreviations

AfBeer:

Alcohol-free beer

AfRW:

Alcohol-free red wine

AfWW:

Alcohol-free white wine

BT:

Black tea

EGCG:

Epigallocatechin 3-gallate

3H-FA:

3H-folic acid

GT:

Green tea

Lbeer:

Lager beer

OJ:

Orange juice

3H-MTX:

3H-methotrexate

RFC:

Reduced folate carrier

RW:

Red wine

Sbeer:

Stout beer

WW:

White wine

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by FCT (SFRH/BD/16883/2004), Programa Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação do Quadro Comunitário de Apoio (POCTI/SAU-FCF/59382/2004) and iBeSa (Instituto de Bebidas e Saúde).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Biochemistry (U38-FCT), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal

    Clara Lemos, Fátima Martel & Conceição Calhau

  2. Dept. of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Clara Lemos & Godefridus J. Peters

  3. Dept. of Rheumatology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Gerrit Jansen

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  1. Clara Lemos
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  2. Godefridus J. Peters
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  3. Gerrit Jansen
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  4. Fátima Martel
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  5. Conceição Calhau
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Correspondence to Clara Lemos.

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Lemos, C., Peters, G.J., Jansen, G. et al. Modulation of folate uptake in cultured human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells by dietary compounds. Eur J Nutr 46, 329–336 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-0670-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-007-0670-y

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