1. Folate Gregory Jo, Adam Carbone, Anastasiya Shor SBN1-02 Pd. 4 12/18/09 Mr. Crull Bx Sci

2. What is Folate? Folate or folic acid is really a water soluble form of vitamin B9. Folate or folic acid is really a water soluble form of vitamin B9.

3. What Does it Do to Us? Folate is essential to the maintenance and production of cells. Folate is essential to the maintenance and production of cells. Folate is also needed to synthesize DNA and RNA, as well as modify DNA to prevent cancer. Folate is also needed to synthesize DNA and RNA, as well as modify DNA to prevent cancer. Folate is used in the production and development of red blood cells, preventing anemia Folate is used in the production and development of red blood cells, preventing anemia Folate keeps the blood flowing which prevents build up of homocysteine, an amino acid that can cause cardiovascular disease, bone fractures and Parkinson’s disease if left unchecked. Folate keeps the blood flowing which prevents build up of homocysteine, an amino acid that can cause cardiovascular disease, bone fractures and Parkinson’s disease if left unchecked.

4. What does it Do to us? (cont.) Folate, by the same method of preventing build up of homocysteine, also prevents build up of dementias, which can cause Alzheimer’s AKA Lou Gehrig’s disease. Folate, by the same method of preventing build up of homocysteine, also prevents build up of dementias, which can cause Alzheimer’s AKA Lou Gehrig’s disease. Folate also helps maintain the nervous sytem by keeping it functioning through the synthesis of the neurotransmitters that send signals throughout the nervous system Folate also helps maintain the nervous sytem by keeping it functioning through the synthesis of the neurotransmitters that send signals throughout the nervous system Folic acid is especially important to anemic people, pregnant mothers, and those with heart problems Folic acid is especially important to anemic people, pregnant mothers, and those with heart problems It helps maintain healthy blood cells, and reduces the risk for birth defects. It helps maintain healthy blood cells, and reduces the risk for birth defects.

5. Primary Deficiency Causes Deficiency of folate can occur when the body requires larger intakes of folate, or folate loss increases, but the demand for more folate is not met. Deficiency of folate can occur when the body requires larger intakes of folate, or folate loss increases, but the demand for more folate is not met.

6. When does Primary Deficiency Occur? Primary deficiency often occurs when a person is Pregnant and lactating (breastfeeding) Pregnant and lactating (breastfeeding) Abusing alcohol- linked to liver disease Abusing alcohol- linked to liver disease Undergoing Kidney dialysis Undergoing Kidney dialysis Has anemia Has anemia

7. Secondary Deficiency Causes Certain medications cause the body to be unable to properly absorb the required amounts of folate. Certain medications cause the body to be unable to properly absorb the required amounts of folate.

8. When does Secondary Deficiency Occur? Secondary deficiency occurs when a person is taking anticonvulsant medications (such as dilantin, phenytoin and primidone) anticonvulsant medications (such as dilantin, phenytoin and primidone) metformin, a medication used to control sugar in Diabetes II patients metformin, a medication used to control sugar in Diabetes II patients sulfur drugs used to control inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis sulfur drugs used to control inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis some diuretics, like triamterene some diuretics, like triamterene some sedatives some sedatives methotrexate, which limits function of enzymes requiring folate (often used to treat cancer) methotrexate, which limits function of enzymes requiring folate (often used to treat cancer)

9. Deficiency Effects - Loss of appetite and weight loss - Weakness - Sore tongue - Headaches - Heart palpations - Irritability - Increases risk of noise induced hearing loss - Loss of appetite and weight loss - Weakness - Sore tongue - Headaches - Heart palpations - Irritability - Increases risk of noise induced hearing loss

10. What is a Toxic Dose of Folate? A toxic dose is defined as more than 1,000-2,000 micrograms A toxic dose is defined as more than 1,000-2,000 micrograms

11. Effects of a toxic dose on the Body -Nerve damage (too much folate in system masks B12 deficiency) -insomnia -general discomfort, weakness -irritability -intestinal dysfunction. -Nerve damage (too much folate in system masks B12 deficiency) -insomnia -general discomfort, weakness -irritability -intestinal dysfunction.

12. Sources of Folate Cereals Cereals baked goods baked goods leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, lettuce) leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, lettuce) okra okra asparagus asparagus fruits (bananas, melons, lemons) fruits (bananas, melons, lemons) legumes legumes yeast yeast mushrooms mushrooms organ meat (beef liver, kidney) organ meat (beef liver, kidney) orange juice orange juice tomato juice tomato juice Peanut butter and sunflower seeds Peanut butter and sunflower seeds Some grain products that have been enriched with it. Some grain products that have been enriched with it. Fruit juices Fruit juices

13. Statistics on Ethnicity, Geographical Location and Susceptibility concerning Folate Studies showed that in an experiment conducted in the USA over a time interval of 10 years, 860 men, ranging from ages 65-84 showed a 95% age- related increase of susceptibility to bladder cancer due to a low folic acid intake. Studies showed that in an experiment conducted in the USA over a time interval of 10 years, 860 men, ranging from ages 65-84 showed a 95% age- related increase of susceptibility to bladder cancer due to a low folic acid intake. In another experiment, it was found that mainly Indian people are primarily susceptible to coronary heart disease due to a lack of folic acid intake, of whom 80% are from South India. In another experiment, it was found that mainly Indian people are primarily susceptible to coronary heart disease due to a lack of folic acid intake, of whom 80% are from South India.

14. Bibiography http://www.righthealth.com/Health/What%20Is%20Folate- s?lid=yhoo-ads-sb-7460722696 http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/folate/NS_patient-folate http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid =63 http://www.righthealth.com/Health/What%20Is%20Folate- s?lid=yhoo-ads-sb-7460722696 http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/folate/NS_patient-folate http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid =63 http://jech.bmj.com/content/54/1/31.full carcin.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/25/9/1639