Folate fortification of staple foods has long been practiced in many countries, including the USA. However, little is known about its requirement for health at later phases of life. A recent study in Life Science Alliance explored this question in elderly mice.
Study: Late-life dietary folate restriction reduces biosynthesis without compromising healthspan in mice . Image Credit: Benoit Daoust/Shutterstock.com What is folate? Folate is a vitamin cofactor required as a one-carbon (1C) donor in multiple metabolic pathways.
Its role is within the folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism (FOCM). This network of reactions participates in metabolizing amino acids like serine, glycine , and methionine and building nucleic acids and phospholipids. It is also essential for methylation.
Folate is required to divide cells actively during fetal life. Folate antagonists are, therefore, useful in suppressing abnormal cell proliferation in cancer chemotherapy, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. Folate-fortified foods promote normal development in early human life, especially preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Some researchers suggest a negative impact on older humans, such as possibly increased rates of colorectal cancer. While this hypothesis has not been confirmed, this does not mean that health in late life is not affected by a high folate intake. There is little solid evidence in favor of or against the opposing postulate that moderately reduced folate supplementation i.