A Modified Microbiological Method for Determination of Folate Levels in Erythrocyte and Plasma

• Published in: Pteridines 2007-02, Vol.18 (1), p.106-113
• Main Authors: Sipahi, Hande, Baydar, Terken, Ozalp, Meral, Sahin, Gonul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: blood; folate; lactobacillus rhamnosus; microbiologic assay
• ISSN: 0933-4807; 2195-4720
• DOI: 10.1515/pteridines.2007.18.1.106

Pteridines are natural heterocyclic compounds and they are generally divided into two main groups which are denominated as conjugated and unconjugated pteridines. Conjugated pteridines are the folate derivatives containing p-aminobenzoate and glutamate. Folate is a normal component of the cell. Folate derivatives play a crucial role in important biochemical pathways such as purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis, conversion of serine to glycine, histidine catabolism, methionine synthesis and detoxification reactions of certain xenobiotics, in which single carbon transfer is required. Folate deficiency has been proven to play a role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases. Additionally, exposure to some xenobiotics and prolonged use of some drugs may lead to folate deficiency. Serum, plasma and especially erythrocyte folate concentrations are generally used as biomarkers of folate pool. Therefore the present study was undertaken to establish an easy applicable, economic, accurate, sensitive, specific and reproducible microbiological method by using L. rhamnosus in our laboratory. Following the establishment of the method its application was carried out in blood samples of 46 volunteers. Mean value of folate levels in erythrocyte were found 359.7 ± 133.3 ng/ml, while mean plasma folate levels were determined 27.3 ± 12.4 ng/ml. In erythrocyte, the average recovery was 103.0 ± 17.7% (mean ±SD), in plasma the average recovery was 101.0 ± 1.7% (mean ±SD) for folinic acid concentrations at 10, 25 and 50 ng/ml. The CVs were 15.1 ± 5.6% (mean ± SD) for within-run and 7.2 ± 3.9% (mean ± SD) for between-run precisions. In the present study, a modified microbiological method for folate analysis which can be applied to biological material, has been established.