Fetal Malformations and Folate Metabolism: Review of Recent Evidence

Although a reduction in incidence of neural tube defects is unequivocally linked to adequate folate status, evidence is also mounting associating folate with other fetal malformations. The emerging discoveries about single nucleotide polymorphisms have given new insight into folate biochemistry, ena...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nutrition reviews 2001-07, Vol.59 (7), p.215-224
Main Authors: Moyers, Susan, Bailey, Lynn B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Birth defects
Clinical trials
Congenital Abnormalities - genetics
Congenital Abnormalities - prevention & control
Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy
Female
Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase - genetics
Fetus - abnormalities
Fetuses
Folic Acid - metabolism
Genetics
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Medical research
Medical sciences
Metabolism
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors - genetics
Polymorphism, Genetic
Pregnancy
Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta
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Summary:Although a reduction in incidence of neural tube defects is unequivocally linked to adequate folate status, evidence is also mounting associating folate with other fetal malformations. The emerging discoveries about single nucleotide polymorphisms have given new insight into folate biochemistry, enabling more precise understanding of how genetic variations influence folate‐dependent pathways in embryogenesis. Findings suggest that folate status may be partly under genetic control, and may involve a “cocktail effect” resulting from interactions among genes, nutrients, and enzymes. Despite major laboratory advances, much of the human evidence comes from observational studies, and questions linger that cannot be definitively answered without randomized clinical trials.
ISSN:0029-6643
1753-4887
DOI:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2001.tb07013.x