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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #61646
Title: SEVERE FOLATE DEFICIENCY CAUSES SECONDARY DEPLETION OF CHOLINE AND PHOSPHOCHOLINE IN RAT LIVER

Author
item KIM, YOUNG - TUFTS-HNRCA
item MILLER, JOSHUA - TUFTS-HNRCA
item DA COSTA, KERRY - UNC CHAPEL HILL
item NADEAU, MARIE - TUFTS-HNRCA
item SMITH, DONALD - TUFTS-HNRCA
item SELHUB, JACOB - TUFTS-HNRCA
item ZEISEL, STEVEN - UNC CHAPEL HILL
item MASON, JOEL - TUFTS-HNRCA

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: It has previously been shown that a deficiency of choline, a B vitamin that prevents the deposition of fat in the liver, causes depletion of folate concentration, another B vitamin, in rat liver. We conducted two separate experiments to determine whether folate deficiency would lead to depletion of choline in the liver. In experiment 1, severe folate deficiency was induced in rats by feeding a diet containing amino acids and an antibacterial agent but without folate; control rats were fed the same diet containing folate. After 4 weeks, blood and liver folate concentrations were significantly depleted in the severely folate-deficient rats compared with controls, and choline and phosphocholine, an intermediary form of choline, concentrations were 65 and 80% lower, respectively. In experiment 2, moderate folate deficiency was induced in rats by feeding the same diet as described above, but with the antibacterial agent omitted. After 24 weeks, significant folate deficiency was present in the moderately folate-deficient rats compared with controls. A modest reduction in liver choline concentration was observed in the moderately folate-deficient rats compared with controls. No significant differences in liver phosphocholine concentrations were detected between the two groups. These results indicate that severe folate deficiency causes secondary liver choline deficiency in rats.

Technical Abstract: It has previously been shown that choline deficiency causes depletion of hepatic folate concentration in rats. Two separate experiments were undertaken to investigate the converse phenomenon: whether folate deficiency would lead to depletion of hepatic choline. In experiment 1, severe folate deficiency was induced in rats by feeding an amino acid-defined diet containing (per kg diet) 1.4 g choline, 0 mg folate, and 10 g succinylsulfathiazole. Control rats were fed the same diet containing 8 mg folate/kg. After 4 wks, plasma and hepatic folate concentrations were significantly depleted in the severely folate-deficient rats compared with controls (P<0.001), and hepatic choline and phosphocholine concentrations were 65 and 80% lower, respectively (P<0.001). In experiment 2, moderate folate deficiency was induced in rats by feeding the same diet as described above, but with the succinylsulfathiazole omitted. After 24 wks, significant systemic folate deficiency was present in the moderately folate-deficient rats compared with controls (P<0.001). A modest reduction (36%, P=0.087) in hepatic choline concentration was observed in the moderately folate-deficient rats compared with controls. No significant differences in hepatic phosphocholine concentrations were detected between the two groups. These results indicate that severe folate deficiency causes secondary hepatic choline deficiency in rats.