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B‐vitamins influence arsenic metabolism in Mexico
Author(s) -
Mendez Michelle A,
Vavolizza Rick,
GonzalezHorta María C.,
Saunders Jesse,
GutiérrezTorres Daniela,
Ballinas Casarrubias María de L.,
SánchezRamírez Blanca E.,
Ishida María C.,
Del Razo Luz M.,
GarcíaVargas Gonzalo,
Drobná Zuzana,
Buse John,
Loomis Dana,
Styblo Miroslav
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1077.20
Subject(s) - arsenic , vitamin b12 , urinary system , metabolism , micronutrient , excretion , vitamin , physiology , chemistry , medicine , environmental health , organic chemistry
Little is known about dietary modifiers of health risks from environmental contaminants. Inorganic arsenic (iAs), known to increase risk of several chronic diseases, is metabolized via pathways involving methylation to monomethylarsenic (MAs) and dimethylarsenic (DMAs) prior to excretion. Higher proportions of urinary arsenic as iAs or MAs are thought to increase health risks. Studies in Bangladesh suggesting dietary methyl donors may reduce iAs toxicity by enhancing metabolism have yet to be confirmed in other settings. We explored associations between B‐vitamin intakes and urinary As species in 560 adults in Chihuahua, Mexico exposed to iAs in drinking water. In multivariate models, higher dietary folate was associated with a lower proportion of urinary iAs and a higher ratio of MAs to iAs (P<0.05), but not with a higher proportion of DMAs. Folate was more strongly associated with lower iAs when vitamin B12 intakes were higher. Findings support that B vitamins influence iAs metabolism, possibly by modulating methyl group availability. Support: NIEHS 5R01 ES015326 ‐02