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Factors affecting the distribution of folate forms in the serum of elderly German adults

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Abstract

Purpose

We investigated the roles of age, vitamin B12 markers, and the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism as determinants of folate forms in serum.

Methods

We measured the serum concentrations of (6S)-5-CH3–H4folate, (6S)-H4folate, (6S)-5-HCO–H4folate, (6R)-5,10-CH+–H4folate, and folic acid in 146 non-supplemented older participants (median age 74 years). The concentrations of total vitamin B12, holotranscobalamin (holoTC), methylmalonic acid (MMA), and total homocysteine (tHcy) were also measured.

Results

Elevated metabolites (MMA > 271 nmol/L and tHcy > 12.0 μmol/L) were found in 24.0 and 63.0 % of the participants, respectively. We found a significant age-dependent decrease (participants with a median age of 87 years compared with participants with a median age of 60 years) in the sum of serum folate levels, the (6S)-5-CH3–H4folate concentration, and the (6S)-5-CH3–H4folate proportion. In addition, participants with elevated metabolite levels were older, had lower concentrations of the sum of folates and (6S)-5-CH3–H4folate, and had higher concentrations of (6S)-5-CHO–H4folate and creatinine but had a comparable holoTC/total vitamin B12 ratio. No association was found between the MTHFR C677T genotype and serum folate forms.

Conclusion

Low serum (6S)-5-CH3–H4folate concentrations and the proportion of (6S)-5-CH3–H4folate (percentage of the sum of folate forms) are related to older age and elevated MMA and tHcy levels.

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Abbreviations

holoTC:

Holotranscobalamin

MMA:

Methylmalonic acid

MTHFR:

5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase

tHcy:

Total homocysteine

UPLC–MS/MS:

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mrs. Marion Bodis and Mrs. Vera Kruse for their excellent assistance in the course of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Building 57, 66421, Homburg, Saarland, Germany

    Susanne H. Kirsch, Wolfgang Herrmann, Jürgen Geisel & Rima Obeid

  2. Geriatric Health Center, 66386, St. Ingbert, Germany

    Rudolf Eckert

Authors
  1. Susanne H. Kirsch
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  2. Wolfgang Herrmann
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  3. Rudolf Eckert
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  4. Jürgen Geisel
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  5. Rima Obeid
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Correspondence to Rima Obeid.

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Kirsch, S.H., Herrmann, W., Eckert, R. et al. Factors affecting the distribution of folate forms in the serum of elderly German adults. Eur J Nutr 52, 497–504 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0351-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0351-3

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