Aspects of folate metabolism in lactating women studied after ingestion of 14C-methylfolate

Journal Article · Tue May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979 · Am. J. Med. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00000441-197905000-00006· OSTI ID:6362247

Retief, F P; Heyns, A P; Oosthuizen, M; Oelofse, R; van Reenen, O R

Radioactive methylfolate (14C-5CH3H4PteGlu) (10-14 microgram/kg) was fed to four lactating women presenting with breast abscesses necessitating cessation of lactation. The appearance of radiofolate in milk, plasma and urine over the next 24 hours was investigated. In spite of a minimal postabsorption rise of plasma biofolate, plasma radiofolate (including a dialysis-resistant (bound) fraction increased steadily to 1.26 to 5.11 microgram/l at 24 h. Urinary radiofolate excretion was considerable. Total milk biofolate rose significantly by 15 to 28 microgram/l, in contrast with a much smaller radiofolate fraction (1.95 to 3.88 microgram/l) which at 24 hours was comparable with that of plasma. Milk radiofolate included a dialysis-resistant fraction rising to 0.75 to 1.15 microgram/l at 24 hours. On chromatography (Sephadex-DEAE-A50) plasma, urine and milk showed a nonbound radiofolate peak suggestive of 10-CHO.H4PteGlu. This folate may originate predominantly from the apocrine mammary glands. The in vitro labelled radiofolate milk binder could not be identified chromatographically, but it was shown that the in vitro milk binders of PteGlu and 5CH3H4PteGlu could be separated chromatographically.

• Research Organization: Univ. of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
• OSTI ID: 6362247
• Journal Information: Am. J. Med. Sci.; (United States), Vol. 277:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FOLIC ACID
METABOLISM
MAMMARY GLANDS
SCINTISCANNING
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CARBON 14
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
WOMEN
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DRUGS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEMALES
GLANDS
HEMATINICS
HEMATOLOGIC AGENTS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MAN
NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
PTERIDINES
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
VERTEBRATES
VITAMIN B GROUP
VITAMINS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques