Obesity Adversely Affects Folate Levels

BELTSVILLE, Md.Adiposity adversely impacts serum folate levels in postmenopausal women, according to a cross-sectional analysis of a crossover trial conducted at the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. Researchers randomized 51 postmenopausal women to consume 0 g (control), 15 g (one drink) and 30 g (two drinks) of alcohol a day for eight weeks, as part of a controlled diet; subjects were crossed-over after a two- to five-week washout period. Body mass index (BMI) was measured and blood samples collected at baseline and after each intervention phase.

In multivariate analysis, overweight women had a 12-percent lower, and obese women a 22-percent lower, serum folate concentration, compared to normal weight women. Vitamin B12 levels also decreased (P-trend=0.08) as BMI increased. Higher BMI, percentage body fat, and absolute amounts of central and peripheral fat were all significantly associated with decreased serum folate, but were unrelated to serum B12, homocysteine or methylmalonic acid levels.

In their conclusion, researchers cautioned their findings, when taken in view of the obesity epidemic and if confirmed by additional studies, could have important public health implications. The study was published online April 25 in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (DOI:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602771).