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Folic Acid Metabolism in Normal, Folate Deficient and Alcoholic Man
Author(s) -
LANE F.,
GOFF P.,
MCGUFFIN R.,
EICHNER E. R.,
HILLMAN R. S.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1976.tb03595.x
Subject(s) - folic acid , metabolism , biochemistry , medicine , chemistry , endocrinology
S ummary . Folate metabolism was studied in normal, folate‐deficient and alcoholic man by tracer measurements of plasma clearance, urinary excretion, tissue storage and release of folate using both [ 3 H]pteroylglutamic acid ( 3 H‐PteGlu) and 14 C‐methyl‐H 4 PteGlu. Alcohol ingestion did not adversely affect tissue uptake of folates. Whether in normal or folate deficient subjects, the relative clearance rates of 3 H‐PteGlu and 14 C‐methyl‐H 4 PteGlu were maintained in the face of alcohol ingestion and there was no evidence of increased urinary loss of intact vitamin or labelled breakdown products. As measured by the flushing technique, the rate of storage or tissue binding of 3 H‐PteGlu was not influenced by folate deficiency, folate store depletion or alcohol ingestion. However, alcohol may retard the release of methyl‐H 4 PteGlu from tissue stores to plasma. A significantly greater recovery of 14 C‐methyl‐H 4 PteGlu with flush was observed in those normal subjects who ingested alcohol for 6 d. A partial block in the rate of release of tissue folate stores would be a possible mechanism behind the rapid depression in serum methyl‐H 4 PteGlu levels and early induction of megaloblastic erythropoiesis which has been observed following acute alcohol ingestion.