Folates and Folic Acid: From Fundamental Research Toward Sustainable Health

Abstract

Folates are of paramount importance in one-carbon metabolism of most organisms. Plants and microorganisms are able to synthesize folates de novo, making them the main dietary source for humans and animals, which are dependent on food or feed supplies for folates. Folate deficiency is an increasing problem in the developing, as well as in the developed regions of the world, affecting millions of people. Different strategies, such as food fortification and folic acid supplementation, remain far from accessible for the poor rural populations in developing countries. Increasing knowledge concerning folate biosynthesis, transport and catabolism does not only deepen our insight on the regulation of folate metabolism but also provides the keys towards folate enhancement through metabolic engineering in bacteria, as well as in plants. Recently, promising results were obtained using such an approach, but further fundamental research is a prerequisite to develop a practicable solution to fight folate deficiency. In parallel, progress in the development and improvement of folate analysis has been made. Here, we provide the state-of-the-art of folate biosynthesis, catabolism, and salvage. Finally, we report on progress in folate biofortification and discuss the agroeconomical aspect of biofortified crop plants.

Keywords:

• biofortification
• metabolic engineering
• neural tube defects
• agroeconomics
• natural variation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by a grant from Ghent University (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds, GOA 1251204) to D.V.D.S., W.L. and J.V.

D.B. and V.D.B. are indebted to FWO (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Vlaanderen) and IWT (Instituut voor de Aanmoediging van Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie) respectively, for a PhD grant.

Notes

*Based on Berry et al. (1999).

** = ((NTDs < folate deficiency/Birth rate)/100)*Coverage rate.