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Vitamin B12-folate interrelationships.

B Shane, E L Stokstad

    Annual Review of Nutrition
    |January 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Vitamin B12 deficiency causes functional folate deficiency via the methyl trap hypothesis, impacting methionine synthetase. This leads to reduced folate retention and potential real folate deficiency, affecting overall vitamin metabolism.

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    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Nutrition Science
    • Hematology

    Background:

    • Folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies share common clinical symptoms.
    • The biochemical basis for these shared symptoms is complex and involves inter-vitamin interactions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review and explain the interrelationship between folate and vitamin B12 metabolism.
    • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the symptoms of combined deficiencies.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing studies on folate and vitamin B12 metabolism.
    • Explanation of biochemical pathways including the methyl trap hypothesis.
    • Analysis of enzyme kinetics and substrate interactions.

    Main Results:

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency induces functional folate deficiency through the 'methyl trap' mechanism, lowering methionine synthetase activity.
  • Impaired folylpolyglutamate synthesis due to 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate being a poor substrate, leading to decreased tissue folate retention.
  • Methionine spares folate by inhibiting methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, preventing 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate accumulation.

    • Conclusions:

    • Vitamin B12 deficiency is a primary driver of functional folate deficiency, not solely a cofactor issue.
    • Both functional and real folate deficiencies contribute to clinical manifestations.
    • Disturbances in folate metabolism due to vitamin B12 deficiency require lowered methyltransferase levels to become apparent.