Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and use of folate
Citation
Karmin O, Connie W.H. Woo, Victoria Sid, Yaw L. Siow,
Chapter 17 - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and use of folate,
Editor(s): Vinood B. Patel,
Molecular Nutrition,
Academic Press,
2020,
Pages 323-343,
ISBN 9780128119075,
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811907-5.00028-2.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128119075000282)
Abstract: Folate is an essential water-soluble B vitamin that is required for nucleic acid biosynthesis, methylation reaction, and sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism. Depletion of folate perturbs folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism and is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a common chronic liver disease and its prevalence increases significantly in patients with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. As the incidence of obesity and diabetes continues to rise, NAFLD will emerge as a major threat to public health. Low serum folate levels are correlated with body mass index, severity of NAFLD, and diabetes. There is currently no approved pharmacological agent for NAFLD treatment. Nutrition-focused therapies represent a promising management strategy for metabolic diseases such as NAFLD. Understanding the role of folate in fatty liver disease may position this vitamin as a potential therapy for NAFLD.
Keywords: Folate; folic acid; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); liver; folate transporter; obesity; supplementation; sulfur-containing amino acid
Plain language summary
This book chapter focuses on the role of folate in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Folate is naturally occurring and is also known as vitamin B9 while folic acid is the synthetic form of the vitamin. This vitamin plays a key role in many crucial biochemical reactions in the body. While folate deficiency is uncommon in the general population in countries with mandatory folic acid fortification, low serum folate levels are detected in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with adequate dietary intake of folate. NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease that is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. This chapter discusses the scientific data to warrant clinical studies to support folate supplementation as a potential disease management strategy for NAFLD patients.
Abstract
Folate is an essential water-soluble B vitamin that is required for nucleic acid biosynthesis, methylation reaction, and sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism. Depletion of folate perturbs folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism and is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a common chronic liver disease and its prevalence increases significantly in patients with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. As the incidence of obesity and diabetes continues to rise, NAFLD will emerge as a major threat to public health. Low serum folate levels are correlated with body mass index, severity of NAFLD, and diabetes. There is currently no approved pharmacological agent for NAFLD treatment. Nutrition-focused therapies represent a promising management strategy for metabolic diseases such as NAFLD. Understanding the role of folate in fatty liver disease may position this vitamin as a potential therapy for NAFLD.