title: Folate status of elderly women following moderate folate depletion responds only to a higher folate intake.
abstract: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for folate for elderly women have been based primarily on data extrapolated from studies in younger women. This study was conducted to provide the first age-specific data in elderly women (60-85 y) from a controlled metabolic study on which to base folate intake recommendations. Subjects (n = 33) consumed a moderately folate-deplete (118 microg/d) diet for 7 wk, followed by repletion diets providing either 200 or 415 microg folate/d as diet plus folic acid (FA) or a combination of FA and orange juice (OJ) for 7 wk (n = 30). Comparisons among and within groups were made for serum folate (SF), RBC folate and plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations. SF concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.001) during depletion (65 +/- 15%). Postrepletion, the adjusted SF concentration for subjects consuming 415 microg folate/d was significantly greater (P = 0.003) than for subjects consuming 200 microg folate/d. RBC folate concentrations decreased (P < 0.001) during depletion (21 +/- 10%) and further (P < 0.001) during repletion (5 +/- 14%). During depletion, plasma tHcy concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.001) and an inverse relationship between SF and plasma tHcy concentrations was observed in 94% of subjects (P < 0.001). Reversal of this inverse relationship was significant only for subjects consuming 415 microg folate/d (P < 0.001). Postrepletion, subjects consuming 200 microg folate/d had a significantly higher (P = 0.009) adjusted plasma tHcy concentration than subjects consuming 415 microg folate/d. These data in elderly women indicate that 415 microg/d folate, provided as a combination of diet, FA and OJ, or diet and FA, normalizes folate status more effectively than does 200 microg/d, thus providing age-specific data for future folate intake recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kauwell
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Wilsky
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herrlinger-Garcia
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hutson
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Theriaque
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Rampersaud
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid