Effect of nitrite ingestion on the bioavailability of folate in the rat

The effect of nitrite ingestion on the intestinal deconjugation and absorption of folic acid (PGA) and brewers yeast folate was investigated using a rat bioassay and liver folate uptake as the response parameter. Male weanling Sprague Dawley rats were depleted on a low folate AIN-76A formulated basal diet for 21 days. During a 14 day repletion period, folic acid (PGA) and brewers yeast were added to provide 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg of folate per kg of diet. Potassium nitrite was administered as part of the diet at 0.5%. All diets were made isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Based on a parallel line assay, the relative bioavailability of folate in the brewers yeast diet (109) was significantly higher than in the standard diet (PGA = 100). When combined with nitrite, the relative bioavailability of the PGA diet was not significantly different (101), while that of the brewers yeast diet was significantly lower than the standard diet. Concomitant ingestion of nitrite significantly reduced the bioavailability of brewers yeast folate but not that of PGA in rats. This appeared to be a direct effect of oxidation by nitrite on the more susceptible substituted folates in brewers yeast.