title: Folate administration decreases oxidative status and blood pressure in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether folate exerts antioxidant effects in postmenopausal women and whether this effect is related to folate-induced modification of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind placebo-controlled study performed in 30 apparently healthy postmenopausal women recruited at the outpatient service of University Hospital. Women, free from hormones or substances possibly interfering with the investigated parameters, were randomized to receive orally for 3 weeks placebo (n = 15) or 15 mg/day of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF; n = 15). Whole-blood free oxygen radicals test (FORT), free oxygen radical defence (FORD), lipids, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance [homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)], homocysteine and 24-h ambulatory BP values were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the entire group of women, FORT was independently and inversely related to the day-night difference of diastolic (r = 0.420; p = 0.03) and mean BP (r = 0.497; p = 0.01). Placebo did not affect any biochemical or BP parameter. 5-MTHF reduced FORT (-71.5 ± 98.2; p = 0.02) and increased FORD (0.5 ± 0.9; p = 0.05), decreased insulin (p = 0.01), HOMA-IR (p = 0.0002) and homocysteine (p = 0.008). During 5-MTHF, night-time mean (p = 0.001) and diastolic BP (p = 0.002) decreased of about 5 mmHg and the day-night difference of mean (p = 0.001) and diastolic BP (p = 0.002) contemporaneously increased. FORT reduction was related to the amplification of the nocturnal decline of mean (0.697; p = 0.006) and diastolic BP (r = 0.777; p = 0.002) and to the amplification of the day-night difference of diastolic BP (r = 0.63; p = 0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present data show a clear reduction of oxidative stress during 5-MTHF administration and a strong correlation between this decrease and the nocturnal decline of BP. The possible link between the two is worthy to be explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Child and Adult, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, cagnacci@unimore.it.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cagnacci
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cannoletta
authors.forename: Anjeza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xholli
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Piacenti
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: Beniamino
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Palmieri
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D013763:Tetrahydrofolates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D007328:Insulin; D013763:Tetrahydrofolates; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; C005984:5-methyltetrahydrofolate