Moderate or supranormal folic acid supplementation does not exert a protective effect for homocysteinemia and methylation markers in growing rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Folic acid (FA) deficiency/supplementation effects seem to be dependent on age group and/or physiological status. The aim was to evaluate changes associated with rapid growth in relation to methionine metabolism in rats.

METHODS

Four groups (n = 10 each) of male Sprague Dawley rats (5 weeks old) were on diets that varied in their FA content: 0 mg FA/kg diet (deficient), 2 mg FA/kg diet (control), 8 mg FA/kg diet (moderate supplementation), 40 mg FA/kg diet (supranormal supplementation). Animals were fed ad libitum for 30 days. Biomarkers of methionine metabolism and antioxidant status were evaluated.

RESULTS

Serum total homocysteine concentration increased (p < 0.01) in FA deficient animals, with no differences between the supplemented groups. The hepatic 'methylation ratio' (S-adenosylmethionine/S-adenosylhomocysteine) of the FA content groups reached similar values, which were significantly higher compared to the deficient group. The brain 'methylation ratio', however, remained unmodified independently of FA content in the diet. FA deficiency induced hepatic DNA hypomethylation, and supranormal FA supplementation exerted the most protective effect (p < 0.01). Serum folate levels increased according to FA dietary level, whereas no differences were seen for vitamin B(12) and vitamin B(6).

CONCLUSIONS

FA deficiency compromises methionine metabolism whereas supplementation does not show an additional positive effect compared to the control diet in growing animals.