title: High‑dose folic acid improves endothelial function by increasing tetrahydrobiopterin and decreasing homocysteine levels.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of folic acid (FA) on tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), neopterin, nitric oxide (NO) and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of Hcy. The effect of various doses of FA on Hcy, BH4, neopterin and NO concentrations in HUVECs was then assessed. In the 5 and 10 nmol/l FA treatment groups, FA was found to significantly increase the levels of BH4 (10.56±3.86 and 11.23±2.1919 pmol/g vs 6.32+2.87 nmol/g; P<0.05 vs. control) and NO production (37.86±12.34 nmol/l, 38.45±11.23 nmol/l vs 26.21±9.24 nmol/l; P<0.001 vs. paired Hcy group), but reduce the levels of Hcy (132.87±29.67 and 140.87±26.76 nmol/l vs. 165.23±30.56 nmol/l; P<0.05 vs. Hcy group). No significant differences were observed in neopterin levels among the different groups of HUVECs. In conclusion, high doses of FA may be capable of protecting endothelial cells through reducing levels of Hcy and increasing BH4 and NO production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Third People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Huizhou, Guangdong 516002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Third People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Huizhou, Guangdong 516002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Third People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Huizhou, Guangdong 516002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangjiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Third People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Huizhou, Guangdong 516002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000378:metabolism*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019798:Neopterin / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D001708:Biopterins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019798:Neopterin; D005492:Folic Acid; C003402:sapropterin