Cytogenetic damage induced by folate deficiency in mice is enhanced by caffeine.
Folate deficiency in Swiss mice increased the incidence of micronuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes, indicating increased chromosomal damage in nucleated erythrocyte precursors. Caffeine enhanced the incidence of micronuclei in blood and bone marrow by up to 5-fold in folate-deficient mice at doses that did not significantly alter the micronucleus frequency in the presence of adequate dietary folate. The lower dose of caffeine used in this study (75 mg/kg) approaches doses received by humans who consume large amounts of caffeinated beverages. Since folate deficiency and caffeine consumption are highly prevalent in the human population, the potential for a similar interaction in man should be evaluated.
MacGregor
J T
JT
Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
Schlegel
R
R
Wehr
C M
CM
Alperin
P
P
Ames
B N
BN
D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012016:Reference Values; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000166:cytology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D002110:Caffeine; D005492:Folic Acid