Folic acid and vitamin B12 in reproducing sows: New concepts

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Matte ◽  
F. Guay ◽  
C. L. Girard
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Key Words Folic Acid ◽  
B Complex Vitamins ◽  
Uterine Secretions

In pig nutrition, the present gaps in the information on B-complex vitamins have important implications for empiricism and disparities in dietary recommendations. This is particularly true for folic acid (B9) and vitamin B12. Recent studies suggest that the beneficial effects of B9 on sow prolificacy may be due to enhanced embryo development and survival. Embryo synthesis of estrogens and uterine secretions of prostanoids and cytokines during attachment appear to be key factors in vitamin B9 regulation of embryo development. Nevertheless, embryo and uterine responses to B9 are often more pronounced in multiparous sows than in gilts. This parity effect on B9 responses can be attributed to the metabolic interaction with another vitamin, specifically B12. The two vitamins are essential for modulating the transfer of one-carbon groups for protein and DNA synthesis, methylation and gene expression. The metabolic pathway involved is the remethylation of methionine from an intermediary metabolite, homocysteine. A deficiency in B9 or B12 mayinduce a local or systemic accumulation of homocysteine, a powerful pro-oxidant known to impair embryo development. It appears that B12 status, which is about two times lower in gilts than in multiparous sows, could be a limiting factor for the action of vitamin B9 on uterus and embryo metabolism during the first pregnancy. Vitamin B12 status is particularly critical since, in early gestation, the sow uterus drains off a massive amount of B12, representing two to three times the B12 plasma pool. Dietary B12, at levels 10 times higher than recommended, have been found to maximize B12 status and minimize homocysteine accumulation in first parity sows. It appears that an optimum B9:B12 ratio, which has yet to be estimated, would enable vitamin B9 to have full beneficial effects on sow prolificacy. In the future, it is likely that there will be an even greater need for updated information on the requirements for B-complex vitamins given the “dietary fine tuning” that is necessary for the highly producing pigs that have been selected in recent decades. Key words: Folic acid, vitamin B12, reproduction, pig

Changes in serum concentrations of folates, pyridoxal, pyridoxal-5-phosphate and vitamin B12 during lactation of dairy cows fed dietary supplements of folic acid

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Girard ◽  
J. J. Matte
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Serum Concentrations ◽  
Ruminal Microorganisms ◽  
Time Parity ◽  
B Complex Vitamins

The present experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of dietary supplements of folic acid (FA) administered from 4 wk prepartum to 305 d of lactation on serum concentrations of folates, vitamin B12, pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P) and pyridoxal. In addition, concentrations of blood hemoglobin and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined. Sixty-three Holstein cows were assigned to 22 incomplete blocks according to lactation number, milk production and body weight (BW). Within each block, cows received 0, 2 and 4 mg FA d−1 kg−1 BW. Dietary supplements of FA increased serum concentrations of folates (time × FA, P = 0.0001); the highest concentrations were observed during the first two months of lactation in cows fed supplementary FA. The lowest serum concentrations of vitamin B12 were also observed during the first two months of lactation, and the concentrations were lower in primiparous than in multiparous cows (time × parity, P = 0.03). Serum concentrations of P-5-P and pyridoxal were not affected by the dietary supplements of FA (P > 0.1). In multiparous cows, dietary supplements of FA had no effect on changes of hemoglobin and PCV during the lactation (time × FA, P > 0.13). In primiparous cows, PCV and hemoglobin were lower in control cows at parturition whereas by 24 wk of lactation, they were higher in cows fed the highest amount of FA. The lowest values of hemoglobin and PCV were observed during the first two months of lactation. These results give an indication that supply of B-complex vitamins by ruminal microorganisms could be suboptimal for high-producing dairy cows, for example, in early lactation when fed a diet with a high proportion of concentrates. More research is needed to determine the metabolic consequences of these variations. Key words: Dairy cow, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, lactation

scholarly journals Effects of folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements on folate and homocysteine metabolism in pigs during early pregnancy

2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Guay ◽  
J. Jacques Matte ◽  
Christiane L. Girard ◽  
Marie-France Palin ◽  
Alain Giguère ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Total Content ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Plasma Vitamin ◽  
Diet Supplements ◽  
Uterine Secretions

The present experiment aimed to determine the effects of supplements of folic acid (FA) alone or in combination with vitamin B12 on folate and homocysteine metabolism in gestating nulliparous Yorkshire–Landrace (YL) and multiparous Landrace (LD) occidental sows and multiparous Chinese Meishan–Landrace (ML) sows. LD sows were randomly assigned to two treatments: 0 or 15 mg FA/kg diet while YL and ML sows were assigned to three treatments: 0 mg FA/kg diet, 15 mg FA/kg or 15 mg FA+160 μg vitamin B12/kg diet. Supplements were given from the oestrus preceding insemination up to slaughter on day 15 of gestation. At slaughter, a uterine flush was collected to determine uterine contents of homocysteine, methionine, tetrahydrofolate (THF), 5-methyl-THF, pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) and vitamin B12. Blood samples were taken at first oestrus, at insemination and on days 5, 10 and 15 of gestation to determine plasma concentrations of homocysteine, methionine, THF, 5-methyl-THF, P5P, vitamin B12 and relative total folate-binding capacity. In occidental sows (YL and LD), the FA supplement tended to decrease uterine flush content of homocysteine (P=0·06) and concentrations of plasma homocysteine (P=0·09). Nulliparous YL sows had lower concentrations of plasma homocysteine, methionine, THF and 5-methyl-THF (P<0·05) than multiparous LD sows. Multiparous ML and LD sows had similar concentrations of plasma THF, 5-methyl-THF, methionine and vitamin B12, but ML sows had lower concentrations of plasma homocysteine (P<0·05). The vitamin B12 supplement increased concentrations of plasma vitamin B12 (P<0·05) both in multiparous ML and nulliparous YL sows, but had no effect on the composition of either uterine flush or plasma. The present results showed also that sows had a low vitamin B12 status (<200 pg/ml) and high circulating homocysteine levels (>15 μM) during the first 15 d of gestation. Furthermore, the vitamin B12 content in uterine secretions represented between 180 and 300 % of the total content in plasma. The low plasma concentrations of homocysteine in multiparous ML sows suggest a more efficient remethylation pathway which may not be dependent upon dietary supply of FA or vitamin B12. In nulliparous YL sows, low concentrations of both homocysteine and methionine suggest that the methionine requirement for protein deposition might have reduced the amount of methionine available for the methylation pathway. The results of the present experiment suggest that the reduction of uterine homocysteine may be an important aspect of the role of FA supplement on the uterine environment in occidental sows. The presence of high levels of vitamin B12 in uterine secretions merits further investigation in relation to embryonic development.

Pre- and post-mating dietary supplements of folic acid and uterine secretory activity in gilts

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 415-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Duquette ◽  
J. J. Matte ◽  
C. FarMer ◽  
C. L. Girard ◽  
J. -P. Laforest
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Culture Medium ◽  
Secretory Activity ◽  
Uterine Tissue ◽  
Key Words Folic Acid ◽  
Uterine Secretions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sow Reproduction ◽  
Estradiol 17Β

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of pre- and (or) post-mating dietary supplements of folic acid on uterine secretions and secretory activity on day 12 of gestation. Crossbred gilts were assigned randomly to three treatments: SS) a dietary supplement of 15 mg of folic acid kg−1 of diet from the estrus before mating (approximately day –21) until day 12 of gestation (n = 9), 0S) the same folic acid supplement from mating (day 0) to day 12 of gestation (n = 10), and 00) no supplement of folic acid (n = 10). At slaughter (day 12 of gestation), one uterine horn was flushed with 20 mL of PBS to collect embryos and uterine flushings, while samples of uterine tissue were collected from the other horn. Supplementary folic acid (0S and SS) increased total folates in uterine flushings (P ≤ 0.05) as well as concentrations of folates in the endometrium (P ≤ 0.0004) and in the whole uterine tissue (endometrium + myometrium: P ≤ 0.0001). Total amounts of prostaglandin (PG)E2 and PGF2α in uterine flushings were not affected (P ≥ 0.8) by any treatment but estradiol-17β was numerically 40% lower (P ≥ 0.12) in uterine flushings of 0S and SS sows. Samples of endometrium (15–17 mg) were cultured for 2 to 7 h. Concentrations of PGE2 and PGF2α in the culture medium increased with the duration of incubation (P ≤ 0.0001) but there was no treatment effect (P ≥ 0.4). The inconsistency between the folic acid response seen in the present study and in previous results using multiparous sows suggests that the impact of this vitamin on sow reproduction might be linked to the parity (and/or prolificacy) of the animal. Key words: Folic acid, uterine tissue, secretion, prostaglandins, gilts

scholarly journals Homocysteine and vitamin therapy in stroke prevention and treatment: a review.

2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan N Manolescu ◽  
Eliza Oprea ◽  
Ileana C Farcasanu ◽  
Mihai Berteanu ◽  
Cornelia Cercasov
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Vascular Endothelium ◽  
Independent Risk Factor ◽  
Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Vitamin Therapy ◽  
Methionine Synthesis ◽  
Reduced Risk

Homocysteine (Hcy), a sulfur amino acid, is the only direct precursor for L-methionine synthesis through a reaction that requires vitamin B₁₂, representing a connection with "one-carbon" units metabolism. Hcy catabolism requires vitamin B₆ and as a consequence, alteration in folic acid and B vitamins status impairs Hcy biotransformation. Numerous studies have indicated that Hcy is an independent risk factor for cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. In the last decade, several clinical trials have investigated the possible correlation between the use of folic acid and vitamins B₆ and B₁₂ for lowering Hcy plasma concentration and the reduced risk of stroke or its recurrence. This review is aimed to present some aspects of Hcy biochemistry, as well as the mechanisms through which it exerts the toxic effects on the vascular endothelium. We also discuss the results of some of the clinical trials developed to investigate the beneficial effects of vitamin therapy in the prevention and management of stroke.

Efficacy of Adding Folic Acid to Foods

2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violeta Fajardo ◽  
Gregorio Varela-Moreiras
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Food Fortification ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Nutritional Education ◽  
Food Composition Tables ◽  
Staple Foods

In the past, food fortification along with nutritional education and the decrease in food costs relative to income have proven successful in eliminating common nutritional deficiencies. These deficiencies such as goiter, rickets, beriberi, and pellagra have been replaced with an entirely new set of “emergent deficiencies” that were not previously considered a problem [e.g., folate and neural tube defects (NTDs)]. In addition, the different nutrition surveys in so-called affluent countries have identified “shortfalls” of nutrients specific to various age groups and/or physiological status. Complex, multiple-etiology diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, and obesity have emerged. Food fortification has proven an effective tool for tackling nutritional deficiencies in populations; but today a more reasonable approach is to use food fortification as a means to support but not replace dietary improvement strategies (i. e. nutritional education campaigns). Folic acid (FA) is a potential relevant factor in the prevention of a number of pathologies. The evidence linking FA to NTD prevention led to the introduction of public health strategies to increase folate intakes: pharmacological supplementation, mandatory or voluntary fortification of staple foods with FA, and the advice to increase the intake of folate-rich foods. It is quite contradictory to observe that, regardless of these findings, there is only limited information on food folate and FA content. Data in Food Composition Tables and Databases are scarce or incomplete. Fortification of staple foods with FA has added difficulty to this task. Globally, the decision to fortify products is left up to individual food manufacturers. Voluntary fortification is a common practice in many countries. Therefore, the “worldwide map of vitamin fortification” may be analyzed. It is important to examine if fortification today really answers to vitamin requirements at different ages and/or physiological states. The real impact of vitamin fortification on some key biomarkers is also discussed. An important question also to be addressed: how much is too much? It is becoming more evident that chronic excessive intakes may be harmful and a wide margin of safety seems to be a mandatory practice in dietary recommendations. Finally, the “risk/benefit” dilemma is also considered in the “new” FA-fortified world.

scholarly journals Retention, stability, iron bioavailability and sensory evaluation of extruded rice fortified with iron, folic acid and vitamin B 12

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (S3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvette Wilda Jyrwa ◽  
Ravindranadh Palika ◽  
Swetha Boddula ◽  
Naveen Kumar Boiroju ◽  
Radhika Madhari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Sensory Evaluation ◽  
Iron Bioavailability ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Vitamin B 12 ◽  
Iron Folic Acid

Effect of folic acid and glycine supplementation on embryo development and folate metabolism during early pregnancy in pigs1

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
pp. 2134-2143 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Guay ◽  
J. J. Matte ◽  
C. L. Girard ◽  
M.-F. Palin ◽  
A. Giguère ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Folate Metabolism

scholarly journals Total Usual Dietary Intakes of Pregnant Women in the United States, 2001-2014 (FS08-01-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Regan Bailey ◽  
Susan Pac ◽  
Victor Fulgoni ◽  
Kathleen Reidy
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Critical Dimension ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Excessive Consumption ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Objectives Nutrition during pregnancy is a critical dimension not only for women’s heath, but also for the offspring’s lifelong health. Very limited national data exist on the usual dietary intakes of pregnant women. The objective of this study was to estimate total usual nutrient intakes (from foods and dietary supplements) of pregnant women in the U.S. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally-representative sample of pregnant U.S. women, ages 20-40 years (n = 1,003) from NHANES 2001-2014. Total usual dietary intakes were estimated using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method to adjust 2, 24-hour dietary recalls for within-person variation. Adherence with the Dietary Reference Intakes were used to assess the proportion at risk of inadequacy by the Estimated Average Requirement (%< EAR), assumed to be adequate by the Adequate Intake (% >AI), and at risk of excess by the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (% >UL). Results About 70% of pregnant women use a dietary supplement. Less than 5% of pregnant women have usual diets that are at risk for inadequate intakes of riboflavin (3%), niacin (1%), vitamin B12 (1%), iron (2%), phosphorus (< 0.5%), and selenium (< 0.5%). More pregnant women have usual intakes < EAR for vitamins A (15%), B6 (11%), folate (16%), C (11%), D (46%), E (43%), and minerals including copper (5%), calcium (13%), magnesium (47%) and zinc (11%). Few pregnant females have usual intakes >AI for potassium (2%) and choline (8%), whereas only 48% have vitamin K intakes >AI. The majority of pregnant women (95%) exceed the UL for sodium, while folic acid (34%), iron (28%), calcium (3%), and zinc (7%) were also of concern for intakes >UL. Conclusions Many U.S. pregnant women ( >10% < EAR or < 10% >AI) do not consume enough of key nutrients during pregnancy specifically vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B6, folate, and choline and minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, while almost all are at risk of excessive consumption of sodium, and many at risk of excessive consumption of folic acid and iron. Improved dietary guidance to help pregnant women meet and not exceed dietary recommendations is warranted. Funding Sources Nestle Nutrition.

EXCRETION OF 4(5)-AMINO-5(4)-IMIDAZOLECARBOXAMIDE AND FORMIMINO-L-GLUTAMIC ACID IN FOLIC ACID AND VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENT RATS

1965 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1367-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. McGeer ◽  
N. P. Sen ◽  
D. A. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Glutamic Acid ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Urocanic Acid ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Intraperitoneal Dose ◽  
Group A ◽  
Acid Load ◽  
Deficient Group

The excretion of 4(5)-amino-5(4)-imidazolecarboxamide (AIC) in the urines of normal rats, rats raised on a folic acid deficient diet, and rats raised on a vitamin B12 deficient diet was measured. The AIC excretion was elevated 3-fold above normal in the B12 deficient group and 1.5-fold above normal in the folic acid deficient group.No evidence could be found that the raised AIC excretion was associated with a block in the conversion of AIC to purines. The recovery of radioactive AIC in the urine after an intraperitoneal dose of 2 μmoles AIC per kg was not increased over normal in any of the deficient groups, and was significantly less than normal in the B12-deficient group. Most of the urinary radioactivity in all groups was in allantoin, uric acid, and purines.When a load of 220 μmoles of AIC per kg was administered there was no difference between the vitamin B12 deficient and the normal groups in AIC recovery in the urine. When a load of 220 μmoles of urocanic acid per kg was administered, however, the B12-deficient group had an 18-fold increase over normal in Figlu excretion, and the folic acid deficient group a 17-fold increase. Thus, a substantial block in formimino-L-glutamic acid (Figlu) metabolism, but not in AIC metabolism, existed in the vitamin-deficient groups.Feeding a B12-deficient group a 2% methionine supplement reduced the Figlu excretion after a urocanic acid load to less than half that observed in B12-deficient groups without methionine supplementation, but had no influence on the AIC excretion.

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