Effect of short-term folic acid supplementation on insulin sensitivity and inflammatory markers in overweight subjects

Hyperhomocysteinemia, inflammation and autoimmunity

Hyperhomocysteinemia is independently associated with the development of coronary, cerebral and peripheral vascular disease and deep-vein thrombosis in the general population. The evidence that cardiovascular involvement is particularly frequent and advanced in patients affected with several autoimmune diseases (AD), in which hyperhomocysteinemia represent a common finding, led to an intensive investigation on homocysteine (Hcy) as a putative risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease in such subjects. Indeed, recent data intriguingly expanded the spectrum of the possible pathogenetic implications for hyperhomocysteinemia in the course of AD. In fact, a bi-directional link seems to connect Hcy and the immuno-inflammatory activation characterizing AD, in which immuno-inflammatory activation may contribute to Hcy increase, and Hcy, in its turn, may act as a pro-inflammatory and immuno-stimulating molecule putatively cooperating to the injury of the disease-specific target organs, at least in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Moreover, Hcy may be also a trigger of autoimmune reactions through its capability to bind and structurally modify specific proteins, then resulting in neoantigens formation potentially relevant either in the onset of specific AD and in the progression of the associated cardiovascular damage. More investigation is necessary to fully define the clinical relevance of such phenomena.

Open-label pilot study of folic acid in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Folate deficiency disturbs hepatic methionine metabolism and promotes the development of steatohepatitis in animal models. Our aims were (1) to determine the safety and efficacy of folic acid treatment in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) on changes in liver biochemistries, and (2) to investigate the presence of subclinical folate deficiency in this population.

METHODS

Patients with biopsy-proven NASH were treated with folic acid 1 mg/day for 6 months. Liver enzymes and adverse events were monitored every 3 months until completion.

RESULTS

Ten patients (one male and nine females) with a median age of 54 years were enrolled in this study. At baseline, the median steatosis grade was 2 (range 1-3), the median necroinflammatory grade was 1 (1-3), and the median fibrosis stage was 2 (0-4). The median level of red cell folate was 526 ng/ml (range 99-708); the normal level was 268-616 ng/ml. One compensated cirrhotic patient had folate deficiency. No serious adverse events occurred. After 6 months of therapy, no significant reductions in serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels (60+/-25 vs. 54+/-29, P=0.5 and 86+/-29 vs. 83+/-42, P=0.6, respectively), were observed. Serum levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and prothrombin time remained in the normal range during treatment in all patients.

CONCLUSION

Six months of therapy with folic acid at a dose of 1 mg/day, although safe and well tolerated, does not lead to a significant biochemical improvement in patients with NASH. In a small number of patients, folate deficiency was present in only a cirrhotic patient.