Biological effects of folate/cobalamin imbalance in mammals

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Folate is a vitamin required to make DNA and needed by all cells for growth and cell division. Folate requires another vitamin, cobalamin (vitamin B12), to function properly. Folic acid (man-made folate) is often added to animal feeds. In Canada and some other countries folic acid is also added to human foods to help prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. However, increasing folic acid content of the diet without increasing cobalamin may cause an imbalance in these vitamins. Our long-term goal is to study the biological effects of folate and cobalamin imbalance. We hypothesize that high folic acid / low cobalamin diets will change how genes (DNA) are expressed potentially leading to biological problems. To test this, we will determine in adult mice whether a high folic acid / low cobalamin diet alters how genes are expressed and whether this leads to problems in blood vessel function. We will also study whether exposing pregnant mice to a high folic acid / low cobalamin diet leads to changes in gene expression, increased fatness and impaired ability to process glucose in their offspring. Our research will help determine the best ratio of folic acid to cobalamin in the diet. It will also provide evidence as to the safety of increasing the amount of folic acid added to fortified foods and the possible need to add cobalamin.