title: Folate and vitamin B12 improved alcohol-induced hyperhomocysteinemia in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of combined treatment of folate and vitamin B12 against alcoholic liver disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats weighing about 160 g were divided into four groups: an ethanol group fed an ethanol liquid diet; a control group pair-fed an isoenergetic diet without ethanol; an ethanol and vitamin group fed an ethanol-containing diet that was supplemented with folate (10 mg/kg of body weight per day) and vitamin B12 (0.5 mg/kg of body weight per day); and a control and vitamin group fed an isoenergetic diet without ethanol, which was supplemented with folate (10 mg/kg of body weight per day) and vitamin B12 (0.5 mg/kg of body weight per day).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 16 wk, the plasma folate concentration in the ethanol group was significantly lower than in the other three groups. The plasma homocysteine concentration in the ethanol group was significantly higher than in the other three groups. The hepatic matrix metalloproteinase-2 concentration in the ethanol group was significantly higher than in the control and ethanol/vitamin groups. Furthermore, the plasma homocysteine concentration at the 16th week and the hepatic matrix metalloproteinase-2 concentration showed a significant positive correlation in rats of each group. In addition, pathologic evidence of liver fibrosis was observed only in the ethanol group. Furthermore, hepatic cytochrome 2E1 protein expression in group E increased significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that combined treatment of folate and vitamin B12 can alleviate alcoholic liver injury that may be related to normalization of plasma homocysteine levels.
authors.affiliation: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Public Health & Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sien-Sing
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hsiang-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yi-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Jiun-Rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Suh-Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003580:Cytochromes / Q000378:metabolism; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003580:Cytochromes; D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D014805:Vitamin B 12