Validation of Folate-Enriched Eggs as a Functional Food for Improving Folate Intake in Consumers

Functional foods enriched with folate may be beneficial as a means of optimizing folate status in consumers. We recently developed novel eggs enriched with folate through folic acid supplementation of the hen’s feed, but their potential to influence consumer folate status is unknown because the natural folate forms incorporated into the eggs may not necessarily be retained during storage and cooking. This study aimed to determine the stability of natural folates in folate-enriched eggs under typical conditions of storage and cooking. Total folate was determined by microbiological assay following tri-enzyme treatment in folate-enriched eggs and un-enriched (barn and free-range) on the day they were laid, after storage (up to 27 days) and after using four typical cooking methods (boiling, poaching, frying, scrambling) for different durations. On the day of laying, the folate content of enriched eggs was found to be significantly higher than that of un-enriched barn or free-range eggs (mean ± SD; 123.2 ± 12.4 vs. 41.2 ± 2.8 vs. 65.6 ± 18.5 µg/100 g; p < 0.001). Storage at refrigerator and room temperature for periods up to the Best Before date resulted in no significant losses to the folate content of folate-enriched eggs. Furthermore, folate in enriched eggs remained stable when cooked by four typical methods for periods up to the maximum cooking time (e.g., 135 ± 22.5, 133.9 ± 23.0 and 132.5 ± 35.1; p = 0.73, for raw, scrambled for 50 s and scrambled for 2 min, respectively). Thus, natural folates in folate-enriched eggs remain highly stable with little or no losses following storage and cooking. These findings are important because they demonstrate the feasibility of introducing folate-enriched eggs into the diet of consumers as functional foods with enriched folate content. Further studies will confirm their effectiveness in optimizing the biomarker folate status of consumers

Daily supplementation of a multiple micronutrient powder improves folate but not thiamine, riboflavin, or vitamin B ₁₂ status among young Laotian children:a randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of intervention with a daily multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) on thiamine, riboflavin, folate, and B(12) status among young Laotian children. METHODS: Children (n = 1704) aged 6–23 mo, participating in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial were individually randomized to receive daily either MNP (containing 0.5 mg of thiamine, 0.5 mg riboflavin, 150 μg folic acid, and 0.9 μg vitamin B(12) along with 11 other micronutrients) or placebo and followed for ~ 36 weeks. In a randomly selected sub-sample of 260 children, erythrocyte thiamine diphosphate (eThDP), plasma folate and B(12) concentrations, and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRac; riboflavin biomarker) were assessed at baseline and endline. RESULTS: There was no treatment effect on endline eThDP concentrations (110.6 ± 8.9 nmol/L in MNP vs. 109.4 ± 8.9 nmol/L in placebo group; p = 0.924), EGRac (1.46 ± 0.3 vs. 1.49 ± 0.3; p = 0.184) and B(12) concentrations (523.3 ± 24.6 pmol/L vs. 515.9 ± 24.8 pmol/L; p = 0.678). Likewise, the prevalence of thiamine, riboflavin, and B(12) deficiencies did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, endline folate concentration was significantly higher in the MNP compared to the placebo group (28.2 ± 0.8 nmol/L vs 19.9 ± 0.8 nmol/L, respectively; p < 0.001), and correspondingly, the prevalence of folate deficiency was significantly lower in the MNP group (1.6% vs 17.4%; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to a placebo, daily MNP for 9 months increased only folate but not thiamine, riboflavin, or B(12) status in young Laotian children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02428647) on April 29 2015

Suboptimal biochemical riboflavin status is associated with lower hemoglobin and higher rates of anemia in a sample of Canadian and Malaysian women of reproductive age

Background: Riboflavin is required for several redox reactions. Clinical riboflavin deficiency occurs mainly in low-income countries, where it is associated with anemia. The functional significance of suboptimal riboflavin status in different populations and its role in anemia is not well understood. Objectives: We assessed the biomarker status of riboflavin and its association with hemoglobin concentration and anemia in women living in Vancouver, Canada, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods: Healthy nonpregnant, nonbreastfeeding women (19-45 y) were recruited from Canada ( n = 206) and Malaysia (n = 210) via convenience sampling. Fasting blood was collected to assess riboflavin status [erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRac)], hematological indicators, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), ferritin, vitamin A, folate, and vitamin B-12 concentrations. Linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the association of riboflavin status with hemoglobin concentration and anemia. Results: EGRac (mean ± SD) values were higher, indicating poorer riboflavin status, in Malaysian compared with Canadian women (1.49 ± 0.17 compared with 1.38 ± 0.11). Likewise, riboflavin biomarker deficiency (EGRac ≥1.40) was significantly more prevalent among Malaysians than Canadians (71% compared with 40%). More Malaysian than Canadian women were anemic (hemoglobin <120 g/L; 18% compared with 7%). With use of linear regression (pooled sample; n = 416), EGRac values were negatively associated with hemoglobin concentration (r = -0.18; P < 0.001). This relation remained significant (P = 0.029) after adjusting for age, parity, ethnicity, vitamin B-12, folate, sTfR, ferritin, and vitamin A. Women with riboflavin deficiency (EGRac ≥1.40) were twice as likely to present with anemia (adjusted OR: 2.38; 95% CI: 1.08, 5.27) compared with women with EGRac <1.40. Conclusions: Biochemical riboflavin deficiency was observed in Canadian and Malaysian women, with higher rates of deficiency among Malaysian women. Deficient biomarker status of riboflavin was a weak but significant predictor of hemoglobin and anemia, suggesting that the correction of riboflavin deficiency may potentially play a small protective role in anemia, but this requires further investigation

The effect of zinc supplementation and copper supplementation on homocysteine and bone metabolism in healthy men

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Adequate vitamin B12 and riboflavin status from menus alone in residential care facilities in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia

Older adults have potential increased risk of nutrient deficiencies due to age-related decreased dietary intake and malabsorption; it is important to ensure nutrient needs are met to avoid adverse health outcomes. B vitamins are of particular interest: vitamin B12 deficiency can cause irreversible neurodegeneration; there is mandatory folic acid fortification in Canada; and suboptimal riboflavin status has been reported among older adults in the United Kingdom. In this exploratory secondary analysis study we assessed vitamin B12 and riboflavin biochemical status (via microparticle enzyme immunoassay and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRac), respectively), and the vitamin B12, riboflavin, and folate content of menus served to a convenience sample of older adults (≥65 years) from five residential care facilities within the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Diet was assessed from customized 28-day cycle meal plans. Participants (n=207, 53 men and 154 women) were 86 ± 7 years, largely of European descent (92%), and non-smokers (95%). The menus served had a low prevalence of inadequacy for vitamin B12 and riboflavin (only 4% and 1% of menus contained less than the estimated average requirement [EAR], respectively), but 93% contained less than the EAR for folate. Mean ± SD serum total vitamin B12 concentration was 422 ± 209 pmol/L, and EGRac was 1.30 ± 0.19. The majority of older adults in residential care were provided with adequate vitamin B12 and riboflavin menu amounts, and only 5% were vitamin B12 deficient (The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Effect of high-dose iron supplements on fractional zinc absorption and status in pregnant women

Background: Women have an increased risk of iron deficiency during pregnancy because of the demands of the developing fetus. Iron supplements are commonly advocated as a prophylactic treatment and are generally taken with meals to reduce side effects, but iron can interfere with the absorption of zinc. Objective: The aim was to determine the effect of consuming an iron supplement (100 mg Fe/d as ferrous gluconate) with meals from 16 wk gestation to term on zinc status and absorption. Design: Stable-isotope techniques were used to measure zinc status (exchangeable zinc pool, EZP) and fractional zinc absorption (FZA) in early and late pregnancy from a meal consumed at a different time from that of iron supplement or placebo consumption in 6 women given iron supplements and 7 given a placebo. Results: FZA increased during pregnancy, independent of iron supplementation. FZA was significantly higher (P < 0.001) at week 34 than at weeks 16 and 24, and urinary zinc excretion was higher at week 34 than at week 16 (P = 0.02). The size of the EZP remained unchanged throughout pregnancy and was unaffected by iron supplementation. The iron status of iron-supplemented women was higher than that of the placebo group. Conclusions: In iron-replete pregnant women who consumed a Western diet, no detectable adverse effects on zinc metabolism were observed after ingestion of 100 mg Fe/d. An increase in the efficiency of zinc absorption was observed during late pregnancy

Daily supplementation of a multiple micronutrient powder improves folate but not thiamine, riboflavin, or vitamin B12 status among young Laotian children: a randomized controlled trial.

PurposeTo assess the effects of intervention with a daily multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) on thiamine, riboflavin, folate, and B12 status among young Laotian children.MethodsChildren (n = 1704) aged 6-23 mo, participating in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial were individually randomized to receive daily either MNP (containing 0.5&nbsp;mg of thiamine, 0.5&nbsp;mg riboflavin, 150&nbsp;μg folic acid, and 0.9&nbsp;μg vitamin B12 along with 11 other micronutrients) or placebo and followed for ~ 36&nbsp;weeks. In a randomly selected sub-sample of 260 children, erythrocyte thiamine diphosphate (eThDP), plasma folate and B12 concentrations, and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRac; riboflavin biomarker) were assessed at baseline and endline.ResultsThere was no treatment effect on endline eThDP concentrations (110.6 ± 8.9&nbsp;nmol/L in MNP vs. 109.4 ± 8.9&nbsp;nmol/L in placebo group; p = 0.924), EGRac (1.46 ± 0.3 vs. 1.49 ± 0.3; p = 0.184) and B12 concentrations (523.3 ± 24.6&nbsp;pmol/L vs. 515.9 ± 24.8&nbsp;pmol/L; p = 0.678). Likewise, the prevalence of thiamine, riboflavin, and B12 deficiencies did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, endline folate concentration was significantly higher in the MNP compared to the placebo group (28.2 ± 0.8&nbsp;nmol/L vs 19.9 ± 0.8&nbsp;nmol/L, respectively; p &lt; 0.001), and correspondingly, the prevalence of folate deficiency was significantly lower in the MNP group (1.6% vs 17.4%; p = 0.015).ConclusionsCompared to a placebo, daily MNP for 9&nbsp;months increased only folate but not thiamine, riboflavin, or B12 status in young Laotian children.Trial registrationThe trial was registered at www.Clinicaltrialsgov (NCT02428647) on April 29 2015