Escuela de Biotecnología y Alimentos, Centro de Biotecnología-FEMSA, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus-Monterrey, Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey, NL, 64849, México.
Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2014 Mar;69(1):57-64. doi: 10.1007/s11130-013-0402-9.
Folate deficiency is a global health problem related to neural tube defects, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and cancer. Considering that folic acid (FA) supply through industrialized foods is the most successful intervention, limitations exist for its complete implementation worldwide. Biofortification of plant foods, on the other hand, could be implemented in poor areas as a complementary alternative. A biofortified tomato fruit that accumulates high levels of folates was previously developed. In this study, we evaluated short-term folate bioavailability in rats infused with this folate-biofortified fruit. Fruit from tomato segregants hyperaccumulated folates during an extended ripening period, ultimately containing 3.7-fold the recommended dietary allowance in a 100-g portion. Folate-depleted Wistar rats separated in three groups received a single dose of 1 nmol of folate/g body weight in the form of lyophilized biofortified tomato fruit, FA, or synthetic 5-CH3-THF. Folate bioavailability from the biofortified tomato was comparable to that of synthetic 5-CH3-THF, with areas under the curve (AUC(0-∞)) of 2,080 ± 420 and 2,700 ± 220 pmol · h/mL, respectively (P = 0.12). Whereas, FA was less bioavailable with an AUC(0-∞) of 750 ± 10 pmol · h/mL. Fruit-supplemented animals reached maximum levels of circulating folate in plasma at 2 h after administration with a subsequent steady decline, while animals treated with FA and synthetic 5-CH3-THF reached maximum levels at 1 h. Pharmacokinetic parameters revealed that biofortified tomato had slower intestinal absorption than synthetic folate forms. This is the first study that demonstrates the bioavailability of folates from a biofortified plant food, showing its potential to improve folate deficiency.
叶酸缺乏是一个与神经管缺陷、心血管疾病、痴呆和癌症相关的全球性健康问题。考虑到通过工业化食品供应叶酸是最成功的干预措施，但其在全球范围内的完全实施存在局限性。另一方面，植物性食物的生物强化可以作为补充性替代方案在贫困地区实施。之前已经开发出一种能够积累高水平叶酸的生物强化番茄果实。在这项研究中，我们评估了通过这种叶酸生物强化果实给大鼠输注的短期叶酸生物利用度。在延长的成熟过程中，番茄分离物果实积累了大量的叶酸，最终在 100 克部分中含有推荐膳食允许量的 3.7 倍。将 3 组叶酸缺乏的 Wistar 大鼠分为 3 组，每组大鼠分别接受 1 毫摩尔/克体重的冻干生物强化番茄果实、叶酸或合成 5-CH3-THF 形式的 1 毫摩尔叶酸。生物强化番茄中的叶酸生物利用度与合成 5-CH3-THF 相当，曲线下面积（AUC(0-∞)）分别为 2080±420 和 2700±220 pmol·h/mL（P=0.12）。而叶酸的生物利用度较低，AUC(0-∞)为 750±10 pmol·h/mL。给予果实补充的动物在给药后 2 小时达到血浆中循环叶酸的最高水平，随后呈稳定下降趋势，而给予 FA 和合成 5-CH3-THF 的动物在 1 小时达到最高水平。药代动力学参数表明，生物强化番茄的肠道吸收速度比合成叶酸形式慢。这是第一项证明生物强化植物性食物中叶酸生物利用度的研究，表明其有潜力改善叶酸缺乏。
