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Updated: May 20, 2026

Inactivation of Pathogens via Visible-Light Photolysis of Riboflavin-5′-Phosphate
Published on: April 6, 2022
Folate degradation due to ultraviolet radiation: possible implications for human health and nutrition
David C Borradale1, Michael G Kimlin
1Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. david.borradale@qut.edu.au
Abstract:
Folate is essential for human health in the prevention of megaloblastic anemia and neural tube birth defects and plays important roles in cardiovascular disease and cancer. Therefore, research into environmental factors that may impact folate status, such as solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is of great health significance. In vitro studies have shown that UV radiation can degrade folate and folic acid in human blood and this has been confirmed in several human studies. Despite these findings, there is a dearth of epidemiological research into investigating the relationship between folate status and the links to solar UV exposure.
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