Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T14:25:59.820Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Plasma folate as marker of folate status in epidemiological studies: the European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

D. Drogan ,
K. Klipstein-Grobusch ,
S. Wans ,
C. Luley ,
H. Boeing  and
J. Dierkes
D. Drogan
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Nuthetal, Germany
K. Klipstein-Grobusch*
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Nuthetal, Germany
S. Wans
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
C. Luley
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
H. Boeing
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Nuthetal, Germany
J. Dierkes
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
*
*Corresponding author: fax +49 33200 88 722, Email Klipst@mail.dife.de
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Folate deficiency is often discussed as a potential risk factor for CVD and some cancers. Reliable assessment of folate status in large-scale epidemiological studies is therefore of major importance. The present study assessed the value of plasma folate (PF) compared with erythrocyte folate (EF) as a marker of folate status in 363 participants in the European Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam cohort. EF and PF, total homocysteine (tHcy), pyridoxine, cobalamin, creatinine, total protein and packed cell volume were determined; glutamate carboxypeptidase (GCP) C1561T, reduced folate carrier (RFC) G80A and methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHFR) C677T polymorphisms were analysed. Anthropometric measurements were taken and dietary intake was assessed with the EPIC-Potsdam food-frequency questionnaire. Comparison of EF and PF with factors that may modulate their concentrations was performed. Cross-classification of blood folates in quintile categories resulted in correct classification into the same or adjacent category of 75·5 % of all subjects. Age, BMI, pyridoxine and cobalamin, fruit and vegetable intake, and vitamin supplementation 24 h before blood draw were positively associated with EF and with PF. For tHcy an inverse association was found. Participants with the MTHFR 677TT genotype showed significantly elevated EF concentrations compared with those with 677CT genotype; EF and PF were more strongly correlated (r 0·78, P>0·0001) for participants with MTHFR 677TT genotype than for those with the 677CC or 677CT genotype. In summary, our present results indicate that plasma folate seems to be a suitable marker for assessment of folate status for use in large-scale epidemiological studies.

Keywords

Plasma folateErythrocyte folateBiomarkerPolymorphismEPIC study
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 92 , Issue 3 , September 2004 , pp. 489 - 496
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2004

References

Afman, LA, Trijbels, FJ & Blom, HJpolymorphism in the glutamate carboxypeptidase II gene increases plasma folate without affecting the risk for neural tube defects in humans. J Nutr (2003) 133, 75–77.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bagley, PJ & Selhub, JA common mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene is associated with an accumulation of formylated tetrahydrofolates in red blood cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1998) 95, 13217–13220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bailey, LB & Gregory, JF 3rd Folate metabolism and requirements. J Nutr (1999) 129, 779–782.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bazzano, LA, He, J, Ogden, LG, Loria, C, Vupputuri, S, Myers, L & Whelton, PKDietary intake of folate and risk of stroke in US men and women: NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Stroke (2002) 33, 1183–1188.Google Scholar
Benton, D, Haller, J & Fordy, JThe vitamin status of young British adults. Int J Vitam Nutr Res (1997) 67, 34–40.Google Scholar
Boeing, H, Bohlscheid-Thomas, S, Voss, S, Schneeweiss, S & Wahrendorf, JThe relative validity of vitamin intakes derived from a food frequency questionnaire compared with 24–hour recalls and biological measurements: results from the EPIC pilot study in Germany. Int J Epidemiol (1997) 26, S82–S90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boeing, H, Korfmann, A & Bergmann, MMRecruitment procedures of EPIC–Germany. Ann Nutr Metab (1999 a) 43, 205–215.Google Scholar
Boeing, H, Wahrendorf, J & Becker, NEPIC-Germany – A source for studies into diet and risk of chronic diseases. Ann Nutr Metab (1999 b) 43, 195–204.Google Scholar
Bohlscheid-Thomas, S, Hoting, I, Boeing, H & Wahrendorf, JReproducibility and relative validity of energy and macronutrient intake of a food frequency questionnaire developed for the German part of the EPIC project. Int J Epidemiol (1997 a) 26, S71–S81.Google Scholar
Bohlscheid-Thomas, S, Hoting, I, Boeing, H & Wahrendorf, JReproducibility and relative validity of food group intake in a food frequency questionnaire developed for the German part of the EPIC project. Int J Epidemiol (1999) 26, S59–S70.Google Scholar
Chango, A, Emery-Fillon, N, de Courcy, GP, Lambert, D, Pfister, M, Rosenblatt, DS & Nicolas, JPA polymorphism (80G→ A) in the reduced folate carrier gene and its associations with folate status and homocysteinemia. Mol Genet Metab (2000) 70, 310–315.Google Scholar
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung Referenzwerte für die Nährstoffzufuhr, (Reference values for nutrient intake). 1. Auflage. Frankfurt/Main: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung. (2000)Google Scholar
Devlin, AM, Ling, EH, Peerson, JM, Fernando, S, Clarke, R, Smith, AD & Halsted, CHGlutamate carboxypeptidase II: a polymorphism associated with lower levels of serum folate and hyperhomocysteinemia. Hum Mol Genet (2000) 9, 2837–2844.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dierkes, J, Domrose, U, Bosselmann, KP, Neumann, KH & Luley, CHomocysteine lowering effect of different multivitamin preparations in patients with end-stage renal disease. J Ren Nutr (2001 a) 11, 67–72.Google Scholar
Dierkes, J, Jeckel, A, Ambrosch, A, Westphal, S, Luley, C & Boeing, HFactors explaining the difference of total homocysteine between men and women in the European Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition Potsdam study. Metabolism (2001 b) 50, 640–645.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dierkes, J, Kroesen, M & Pietrzik, KFolic acid and vitamin B6 supplementation and plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy young women. Int J Vitam Nutr Res (1998) 68, 98–103.Google ScholarPubMed
Durnin, JV & Womersley, JBody fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. Br J Nutr (1974) 32, 77–97.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fairfield, KM & Fletcher, RHVitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults: scientific review. J Am Med Assoc (2002) 287, 3116–3126.Google Scholar
Fodinger, M, Dierkes, J, Skoupy, S, Rohrer, C, Hagen, W, Puttinger, H, Hauser, AC, Vychytil, A, Sunder-Plassmann, GEffect of glutamate carboxypeptidase II and reduced folate carrier polymorphisms on folate and total homocysteine concentrations in dialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol (2003) 14, 1314–1319.Google Scholar
Green, TJ, Allen, OB & O’Connor, DLA three–day weighed food record and a semiquantitative food–frequency questionnaire are valid measures for assessing the folate and vitamin B–12 intakes of women aged 16 to 19 years. J Nutr (1998) 128, 1665–1671.Google Scholar
Herbert, VNutrition classics. Transactions of the Association of American Physicians, volume 75, 1962, pages 307–320. Experimental nutritional folate deficiency in man. Nutr Rev (1982) 40, 246–248.Google Scholar
Jacques, PF, Sulsky, SI, Sadowski, JA, Phillips, JC, Rush, D & Willett, WCComparison of micronutrient intake measured by a dietary questionnaire and biochemical indicators of micronutrient status. Am J Clin Nutr (1993) 57, 182–189.Google Scholar
Jaffe, JP & Schilling, RFErythrocyte folate levels: a clinical study. Am J Hematol (1991) 36, 116–121.Google Scholar
Klemm, C, Mathis, G, Christ, M, Gebhardt, G, Hamami, E, Pathasart, B, Wagner, U & Dehne, LIDer BundesLebensmittel-Schlüssel (BLS II.3)(The German Food Code and Nutrient Database). Berlin Bundesinstitut für Gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterinärmedizin. (1999)Google Scholar
Klerk, M, Verhoef, P, Clarke, R, Blom, HJ, Kok, FJ & Schouten, EGMTHFR 677C→ T polymorphism and risk of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis. J Am Med Assoc (2002) 288, 2023–2031.Google Scholar
Klipstein-Grobusch, K, Georg, T & Boeing, HInterviewer variability in anthropometric measurements and estimates of body composition. Int J Epidemiol (1997) 26, S174–S180.Google Scholar
Kroke, A, Klipstein-Grobusch, K, Voss, S, Moseneder, J, Thielecke, F, Noack, R & Boeing, H (1999) Validation of a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire administered in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study: comparison of energy, protein, and macronutrient intakes estimated with the doubly labeled water, urinary nitrogen, and repeated 24-h dietary recall methods. Am J Clin Nutr 70, 439–447.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lievers, KJ, Kluijtmans, LA, Boers, GH, Verhoef, P, den Heijer, M, Trijbels, FJ & Blom, HJInfluence of a glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) polymorphism (1561C→ T) on plasma homocysteine, folate and vitamin B(12) levels and its relationship to cardiovascular disease risk. Atherosclerosis (2002) 164, 269–273.Google Scholar
McKinley, MC, Strain, JJ, McPartlin, J, Scott, JM & McNulty, HPlasma homocysteine is not subject to seasonal variation. Clin Chem (2001) 47, 1430–1436.Google Scholar
Melse-Boonstra, A, de Bree, A, Verhoef, P, Bjorke-Monsen, AL & Verschuren, WMDietary monoglutamate and polyglutamate folate are associated with plasma folate concentrations in Dutch men and women aged 20–65 years. J Nutr (2002) 132, 1307–1312.Google Scholar
Molloy, AM, Mills, JL, Kirke, PN, Whitehead, AS, Weir, DG & Scott, JMWhole-blood folate values in subjects with different methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes: differences between the radioassay and microbiological assays. Clin Chem (1998) 44, 186–188.Google Scholar
Morrison, HI, Schaubel, D, Desmeules, M & Wigle, DTSerum folate and risk of fatal coronary heart disease. J Am Med Assoc (1996) 275, 1893–1896.Google Scholar
National Research Council Recommended Dietary Allowances 10th ed. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences. (1989)Google Scholar
Phekoo, K, Williams, Y, Schey, SA, Andrews, VE, Dudley, JM & Hoffbrand, AVFolate assays: serum or red cell?. Coll Physicians Lond (1997) 31, 291–295.Google Scholar
Pufulete, M, Emery, PW, Nelson, M & Sanders, TABValidation of a short food frequency questionnaire to assess folate intake. Br J Nutr (2002) 87, 383–390.Google Scholar
Riboli, E, Hunt, KJ, Slimani, N, Ferrari, P, Norat, T, Fahey, M, Charrondi`re, UR, Hémon, B, Casagrande, C & Vignat, JEuropean Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC): study populations and data collection. Public Health Nutr (2002) 5, 1113–1124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sauberlich, HELaboratory Tests for the Assessment of Nutritional Status 2nd ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. (1999)Google Scholar
Suitor, CW & Bailey, LBDietary folate equivalents: interpretation and application. J Am Diet Assoc (2000) 100, 88–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thamm, M, Mensink, GB & Thierfelder, WFolsaeureversorgung von Frauen im gebachrfachigen alter (Folic acid intake of women in childbearing age). Gesundheitswesen (1999) 61, S207–S212.Google Scholar
Vargas-Martinez, C, Ordovas, JM, Wilson, PW & Selhub, JThe glutamate carboxypeptidase gene II (C → T) polymorphism does not affect folate status in the Framingham Offspring cohort. J Nutr (2002) 132, 1176–1179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ward, MHomocysteine, folate, and cardiovascular disease. Int J Vitam Nutr Res (2001) 71, 173–178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whetstine, JR, Gifford, AJ, Witt, T, Liu, WY, Flatley, RM, Norris, M, Haber, M, Taub, JW, Ravindranath, Y & Matherly, LHSingle nucleotide polymorphisms in the human reduced folate carrier: characterization of a high-frequency G/A variant at position 80 and transport properties of the His(27) and Arg(27) carriers. Clin Cancer Res (2001) 7, 3416–3422.Google Scholar
Winkelmayer, WC, Eberle, C, Sunder-Plassmann, G & Fodinger, MEffects of the glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP2 1561C → T) and reduced folate carrier (RFC1 80G → A) allelic variants on folate and total homocysteine levels in kidney transplant patients. Kidney Int (2003) 63, 2280–2285.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Xiao, W & Oefner, PJDenaturing high-performance liquid chromatography: a review. Hum Mutat (2001) 17, 439–474.Google Scholar