folic acid and effect on RBC production .pptx

This presentation has folic acid conversion to THF active form and its function with the effect on RBCs

1. FOLIC ACID (Vitamin – B9) Presented by, KAWALYA STEVEN

2. INTRODUCTION Vitamin B9 also called folate or folic acid, is one of 8 B vitamins. All B vitamins help the body convert food into fuel, which is used to produce energy. Folic acid is the synthetic form of B9, found in supplements and fortified foods ,while folate occurs naturally in foods.

3. DEFINITION The word of folic acid is derived from latin word folium means leaf and it is also isolated leafy vegetable spinach. Folic acid is water soluble vitamin, folic acid itself not biologically active but its biological importance is due to Tetrahydrofolate and other derivatives.

4. ACTIVE FORM Tetrahydrofolate(THF or FH 4) is the active form of folic acid. Folic acid mainly consist of three components, 1.Pteridine ring 2.PABA 3.Glutamic acid residue Folic acid mostly has one glutamic acid residue and its known as pteroyl- glutamic acid(PGA).

5. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PRPOPERTIES Folic acid appears as odorless orange-yellow needles. Folic acid is water soluble vitamin, meaning the body does not store them. Odorless; Tasteless; Molecular Formula is C 19 H 19 N 7 O 6 Molecular weight is 441.4.

6. BIOSYNTHESIS Animals, including humans, cannot synthesize folate and therefore must obtain folate from their diet. All plants and fungi and certain protozoa, bacteria can synthesize folate de novo through variations on the same biosynthetic pathway.

7. The folate molecule is synthesized from pterin pyrophosphate, para-aminobenzoic acid, and glutamate through the action of dihydropteroate synthase and dihydrofolate synthase. Pterin is in turn derived in a series of enzymatically catalyzed steps from guanosine triphosphate (GTP), while para-aminobenzoic acid is a product of the shikimate pathway.

8. Tetrahydrofolate the enzyme of folic acid, is actively involved in one carbon metabolism. THF serves as an acceptor or donor unit in a variety if reactions involving amino acids and nucleotide metabolism. The one carbon unit binds with THF at position N5 or N10 of pteroyl structure.

9. PABA + Pteridine Dihydropteroate synthase Dihydropteroic acid Dihydro folic acid Dihydro folate reductase Tetrahydro folic acid (THF) N5, N10 methylene THF Purines Thymidine Methionine (DNA,RNA) (DNA) (Protein)

10. FUNCTIONS OF B9

11. Folate is needed to help our cells grow and multiply, which makes it a key vitamin in periods of rapid growth and development, such as pregnancy and infancy. Folate is particularly important to help develop the baby’s skull and spinal cord, which is why low levels of this vitamin, before and during pregnancy, can lead to severe birth defects, called neural tube defects.

12. Folate and vitamin B12 share many functions in the body. For example, they both work together to create our genetic material (DNA), form healthy red blood cells and support the normal functioning of our brain and nervous system. Both vitamins, alongside vitamin B6, also collaborate in the breaking down of homocysteine, an amino acid that can put us at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, when present in high amounts.

13. DIETARY SOURCE

14. RDA

15. DEFICIENCY 1.Weakness,Nausea,loss of appetite 2.Lethargy 3.Shortness of breath 4.Fatigue 5.Glossitis 6.Megaloblastic anemia 7.In pregnancy it cause Neural Tube Defects (NTD)

16. THERAPEUTIC USES Prevention of certain birth defects. Make healthy red blood cells. Treat anemic condition in both adults and children. Acts by helping the body produce and maintain new cells. Folate is also important for the synthesis and repair of DNA and other genetic material, and its necessary for cells to divide.

17. VITAMIN B12 &FOLIC ACID EFFECT ON RBC PRODUCTION

18. FOLIC ACID (VITAMIN B9) Folic Acid also called as Folacin is largely found in Green leafy vegetables, cereals, yeast, eggs etc. Milk is a poor source of Folic Acid . It is required for the synthesis of some amino acids, Purines and Pyrimidine (Thymine). The active form is Tetrahydrofolate (THF/FH4). It is synthesized from Folic Acid by enzyme Dihydrofolate Reductase. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 200 microgram . In women’s higher intake are recommended during pregnancy (400microgram/day) and lactation (300microgram/day).

19. EFFECT OF FOLIC ACID ON RBC PRODUCTION Folic acid is important for maturation of RBCs . It’s deficiency leads to decreased production of purine and dTMP which blocks the DNA synthesis . Block in DNA synthesis leads to slowing down the maturation of erythrocytes leading to Macrocytic RBC. These macrocytes has flimsy layer and are of oval shape instead of biconcave. These poorly developed cells are fragile and have a shorter life span (half to one-third of normal) . Hence it leads to Megaloblastic Anemia .

20. COBALAMIN (VITAMIN B12) Vitamin B12 is also known as Anti-Pernicious Anemia Vitamin. It is synthesized only by microorganisms and not by animals and plants. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 1-2 microgram/day (adults) , 0.5-1.5 microgram/day (children), 3 microgram/day (pregnancy and lactation) . Food of animal origin are the only sources if Vitamin B12 . The sources are Liver, Kidney, Milk, Curd, Eggers, Fish , Chicken etc. Curd is better than Milk due to synthesis of B12 by Lactobacillus .

21. EFFECT OF VITAMIN B12 ON RBC PRODUCTION The important disease associated with vitamin b12 deficiency is Pernicious Anemia . It is characterized by low Hemoglobin levels, decreased number of erythrocytes and neurological manifestations. Some causes for occurrence of pernicious anemia are as:-- Autoimmune destruction of gastric parietal cells that secrete intrinsic factor. Hereditary Malabsorption of B12, Partial /Total gastrectomy . Dietary Deficiency of B12 in strict vegetarians countries like India, Srilanka.

22. INTERRELATION BETWEEN FOLIC ACID &VITAMIN B12 ----- FOLATE TRAP The deficiency of either folate or vitamin b12 results in similar type of anemia. Hence it suggests a biochemical interrelation between these two .

23. FOLATE / METHYL TRAP HYPOTHESIS In vitamin b12 deficiency, plasma folate levels are increased causing decline in activity of enzyme homocysteine Methyltranferase. As a result the major pathway for conversion of N5- methyl THF to Tetrahydrofolate is blocked and entire body folate is trapped as N5-methyl THF called as Folate or Methyl Trap. Although tissue folate levels are adequate/high , there is functional folate deficiency causing development of Megaloblastic Anemia . Administration of Methionine shows partially symptom correction so a combined therapy of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid is given to treat patients with Megaloblastic Anemia .