A relationship between vitamin B12, folic acid, ascorbic acid, and mercury uptake and methylation.
Ingestion of megadoses of certain vitamins appears to influence the in vivo methylation of mercuric chloride in guinea pigs. The addition of megadoses of vitamin B12 fed either singularly or in combination with folic acid resulted in increased methylmercury concentrations in the liver. Moreover, percent methylmercury levels were significantly increased with B12 treatment in the liver (B12 only and B12/folic acid) and brain (B12/vitamin C). Incorporation of high levels of folic acid into the dietary regime also increased the methylmercury concentration particularly in the liver and hair tissues. The addition of vitamin C in the diet, particularly in combination with B12 (brain) or folic acid (muscle) resulted in increased methylmercury levels in these tissues and percent methylmercury values with B12 in the muscle and brain tissue.
Zorn
N E
NE
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, College of Human Ecology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996-1900.
Smith
J T
JT
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D008745:Methylation; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000378:metabolism*
D005492:Folic Acid; D008628:Mercury; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid