Background: Folate and vitamin B12 have interdependent metabolic functions that are essential for neonate growth outcomes (i.e. birth weight) based on studies from India. The objective of this research was to evaluate the association of maternal folate and vitamin B12 concentrations with neonate birth weight in South Asian (SA) and white European (WE) populations. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis of prospective cohort studies, maternal and neonatal data were collected during the second trimester from 3758 mother-child dyads living in Canada. Maternal diet and supplement use were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical indicators were analyzed in a subset of SA mothers. Birth weight was measured within 72 hours of delivery. All regression analyses were performed unadjusted and with adjustment for identified covariates. Results: Maternal folate and vitamin B12 (dietary, supplemental and total) were not associated with neonate birth weight in SA and WE pregnant women. Higher consumption of milk products by SA women was associated with higher birth weight (β=0.06; p=0.01), whereas higher consumption of egg by WE women was associated with lower birth weight (β=-0.19; p<0.01). Folate and vitamin B12 deficiency in the SA subgroup was 13.7% and 17.8%, respectively. Maternal serum vitamin B12 status was inversely associated with birth weight (β=-0.16; p=0.03). Conclusions: Folate and vitamin B12 may be proxies for poor nutritional status. Therefore, folate and vitamin B12 may have an association with neonate birth weight in a less developed area (i.e. India) rather than in a highly developed area (i.e. Canada). Highly developed countries have an adequate intake of folate and vitamin B12 and thus a higher nutritional baseline status. These findings complement current research on folate and vitamin B12 concentrations with birth weight in well-nourished populations. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Infant birth weight is an indicator of health and disease risk in adult life. The mother’s vitamin intake can influence the weight of the infant. This research aimed to study whether the mother’s folate and vitamin B12 status is related to infant birth weight. Dietary and supplemental data along with blood samples from South Asian and white European pregnant women living in Canada were collected during the second trimester. The mother’s dietary, supplemental and total folate and vitamin B12 intakes were not related to infant birth weight. In South Asian mothers, higher milk intake was related to higher birth weight and in white Europeans, higher egg intake was related to lower infant birth weight. Higher vitamin B12 in the blood was related to lower infant birth weight in South Asians. More research is needed to determine the relationship between folate and vitamin B12 with infant birth weight.

Tableau d'honneur de la Faculté des études supérieures et postdorales, 2014-2015 / Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient d’évaluer les effets d’un supplément combiné d’acide folique et de vitamine B12 sur les performances zootechniques en fermes laitières (première étude) et sur la cinétique du glucose en début de lactation (deuxième étude). Les traitements suivants ont été donnés par injections intramusculaires hebdomadaires de trois semaines avant le vêlage jusqu’à huit ou neuf semaines postpartum : pour la première étude 1) saline ou 2) acide folique et vitamine B12 et pour la deuxième étude 1) saline; 2) acide folique; 3) vitamine B12; ou 4) acide folique et vitamine B12. Pour la première étude, 805 vaches dans 15 troupeaux ont été impliquées. L’incidence de dystocie a été plus basse et la première insémination postpartum a eu lieu plus tôt pour les vaches multipares recevant le supplément que pour les vaches multipares ne le recevant pas. Le supplément n’a pas eu d’effet sur la production laitière. Toutefois, la concentration en gras du lait a diminué et celle en protéines a augmenté pour les vaches recevant le supplément. De plus, ces vaches ont perdu moins de poids corporel en début de lactation suggérant un effet du supplément sur la répartition de l’énergie. L’analyse économique a indiqué que ce supplément a été rentable pour la moitié des fermes à l’étude. Le supplément a augmenté la concentration en vitamine B12 du lait dans tous les troupeaux. Pour la deuxième étude, 24 vaches multipares ont été utilisées. Les concentrations plasmatiques de folates et de vitamine B12 des animaux témoins étaient plus élevées que ce qui a été rapporté dans la littérature. Étonnamment, le supplément d’acide folique a diminué le taux d’apparition du glucose à la neuvième semaine postpartum. L’ingestion, la concentration en glycogène hépatique et le pourcentage de glucose synthétisé provenant du propionate étaient semblables entre les traitements. Les résultats de ces études indiquent que, sous certaines circonstances, les apports d’acide folique et de vitamine B12 par la microflore du rumen semblent adéquats pour optimiser les performances des vaches. Cependant, il n’existe actuellement aucun moyen de prédire les apports en ces vitamines pour l’animal selon la ration reçue. / The objectives of this thesis were to evaluate the effects of a combined supplement of folic acid and vitamin B12 on performance in commercial dairy herds (first study) and on glucose kinetic in early lactation (second study). The following treatments were given by weekly intramuscular injections from three weeks before calving until eight or nine weeks postpartum: for the first study 1) saline or 2) folic acid and vitamin B12 and for the second study 1) saline; 2) folic acid; 3) vitamin B12 or; 4) folic acid and vitamin B12. For the first study, 805 cows in 15 herds were involved. The incidence of dystocia was lower and the first breeding postpartum occurred at an earlier time for multiparous cows receiving the vitamin supplement than for multiparous cows that did not. Vitamin supplement did not affect milk production. However, milk fat concentration decreased and milk protein concentration increased for dairy cows receiving the supplement. Moreover, these cows lost less body weight in early lactation suggesting an effect of the vitamin supplement on energy partitioning. The economic analysis showed that this supplement was profitable for half of the studied herds. The vitamin supplement increased vitamin B12 concentration in milk within each herd. For the second study, 24 multiparous cows were involved. Plasma concentrations of folates and vitamin B12 from controls were higher than previously reported in the literature. Surprisingly, the folic acid supplement decreased whole-body glucose rate of appearance at week nine postpartum. However, dry matter intake, liver glycogen concentration, and percentage of glucose synthesized from propionate were similar among treatments. Results from these two studies highlighted that, under some circumstances, supplies of folic acid and vitamin B12 from ruminal microflora seem to be adequate to optimize cow performance. However, it is not possible under the actual state of knowledge to predict supplies of these vitamins for the animal according to the diet.

La présente étude avait pour objectif d'évaluer chez des truies nullipares, pendant la gestation, l'effet de différentes concentrations alimentaires en vitamine B]2 (B12) sur le statut en B12 et le métabolisme de l'homocystéine des truies gestantes. Ainsi que l'effet de ces différentes concentrations alimentaires de B12 sur les porcelets et le lait durant la lactation, afin de déterminer une teneur optimale à utiliser. Trente-huit truies ont été assignées au hasard à l'un des 5 compléments alimentaires de B12. Les résultats suggèrent que l'apport en B12 pendant la gestation influence le transfert de cette vitamine vers le porcelet qui se fait principalement via le colostrum et le ± premier ¿ lait de la truie. En outre, l'apport en B12 requis pour maximiser le statut en B12 et minimiser la concentration d'homocystéine de la truie et de ses porcelets se situerait entre 100 et 200 ug/kg d'aliment ingéré selon le critère utilisé. Ces concentrations, largement supérieures aux recommandations actuelles du NRC, méritent d'être validées en utilisant des critères de performances de reproduction des truies et ce, sur des effectifs d'animaux beaucoup plus importants.

Ces travaux de recherche ont permis d ' élaborer une méthode de gélification 'à froid ' induite par l'addition de sels de calcium à des protéines de soya thermiquement dénaturées, le but ultime étant d'utiliser ces hydrogels dans le développement de nouveaux aliments fonctionnels et comprimés nutraceutiques ayant des effets bénéfiques sur la santé. Les résultats obtenus démontrent la formation de deux types d 'hydrogels distincts selon la teneur en sels de calcium utilisés. À faible teneur en sels de calcium, des hydrogels filamenteux caractérisés par une microstructure ordonnée et une bonne capacité de rétention d'eau sont obtenus, alors que des hydrogels poreux, agrégés et ayant une faible capacité de rétention d'eau sont identifiés lorsqu'une haute teneur en sels de calcium est utilisée. Ces deux types d 'hydrogels démontrent des propriétés rhéologiques distinctes, utilisées pour quantifier leur dimension fractale respective. Il a été démontré par cette étude que les hydrogels de type filamenteux sont sujet à un mécanisme de formation lent selon un patron dicté par l'encombrement stérique des agrégats primaires, tandis que les hydrogels agrégés sont formés rapidement de façon totalement aléatoire, créant une microstructure désordonnée. Des études in vitro en conditions gastro-intestinales montrent clairement la capacité des hydrogels filamenteux et agrégés à protéger des molécules de vitamine B2, emprisonnées dans leur structure, contre les conditions gastriques (enzymes digestives, pH acide) et à les libérer en conditions intestinales. Les hydrogels filamenteux montrent des profils de libération de la vitamine B2 plus constants que ceux agrégés dû à leur structure moins poreuse. Des comprimés formés à partir des hydrogels lyophilisés et compressés ont également été conçus. Les études in vitro effectuées sur ces comprimés démontrent, comme les études menées sur les hydrogels, une bonne protection de la vitamine B2 en présence de conditions gastriques et une libération accrue lorsque soumis aux conditions intestinales. D'intéressantes perspectives dans le développement de véhicules (hydratés ou comprimés) pour la protection de molécules nutraceutiques et leur libération intestinale sont donc envisageables à partir des hydrogels développés dans le cadre de cette étude.

L’enzyme méthionine synthase (MTR) catalyse la reméthylation de l’homocystéine en méthionine, le précurseur du donneur universel de groupe méthyle S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM), impliqué dans des mécanismes de régulations épigénétiques. Des polymorphismes de MTR sont associés à des défauts métaboliques et des défauts de développement embryonnaire. Afin d’étudier les conséquences d’une déficience en MTR, nous avons généré des modèles murins d’invalidation conditionnelle du gène MTR de manière constitutive ou inductible dans le foie et dans le cerveau. L’invalidation constitutive ou inductible ciblée dans le foie pendant l’embryogenèse n’est pas viable, suggérant un rôle limitant de la méthionine synthase sur le développement précoce et l’organogenèse en lien probable avec les conséquences sur la prolifération cellulaire. Dans les périodes post-natales, nous avons utilisé le modèle inductible complété par une hépatectomie pour étudier les altérations de la régénération hépatique liée aux effets sur le stress cellulaire ainsi que l’expression et l’activation des cyclines. Le KO dans le cerveau induit principalement une perte des fonctions de mémorisation de l’apprentissage hippocampo-dépendant. Au total, nos résultats illustrent les effets différents de l’invalidation de MTR en fonction de l’organe considéré. Le foie est un organe très plastique avec une capacité de régénération très importante. Les effets sur les étapes de l’organogénèse et sur l’inhibition de la régénération confirment l’hypothèse du rôle majeur et limitant de la méthionine synthase dans la régulation du cycle cellulaire. Le modèle d’invalidation au niveau du cerveau confirme le rôle très important de la voie de reméthylation de l’homocystéine catalysée par la méthionine synthase, rôle qui a déjà été illustré par d’autres travaux sur les rats carencés en donneur de méthyle et sur la souris transgénique KO cd320 / The enzyme methionine synthase (MTR) catalyzes the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine, the precursor of the methyl donor S-universal Adenosylmethionine (SAM), involved in epigenetic regulation mechanisms. We generated mouse models with conditional invalidation of the mtr gene in a constitutive or inducible manner to delete the gene expression specifically in the liver and brain. Constitutive invalidation during embryonic life is not sustainable when targeted to the liver, suggesting a limiting role of methionine synthase in early organogenesis and probably on cell proliferation. We performed hepatectomy to study regeneration-related effects on the cellular stress and found dramatic effects on cell proliferation through altered expression and activation of cyclins. The constitutive model in brain highlighted the behavioral anomalies related to a loss of learning and memory. This suggested major effects in the hippocampus. Overall, our findings highlighted the specific effects of the invalidation of methionine synthase in both organs. The liver is a plastic member with a very high regenerative capacity. The effects on organogenesis and inhibition of regeneration confirm the hypothesis for a major role of methionine synthase in cell cycle regulation. The invalidation model in the brain confirms the important role of the remethylation pathway catalysed by methionine synthase, a role which has been shown by other studies in rats deprived in methyl donors and in cd320 KO transgenic mice

As vitaminas do complexo B e o ferro estão presentes em farinhas de cereais, alimentos amplamente consumidos pela população brasileira. O teor natural desses compostos em farinhas de cereais pode ser significativo no cálculo de uma dieta bem balanceada e o consumo de produtos industrializados enriquecidos com vitaminas do complexo B e ferro ajuda a contribuir na ingestão diária recomendada desses micronutrientes. Tabelas Mundiais de Composição de Alimentos apresentam dados incompletos das vitaminas do complexo B e do ferro em farinhas de cereais. No Brasil, a adição de ácido fólico e ferro em farinhas de milho e trigo produzidas para fins industriais é obrigatória desde 2002. Deste modo, para a adequação dos teores de rotulagem de produtos enriquecidos com vitaminas e ferro se fazem necessários o desenvolvimento e a validação de metodologias analíticas confiáveis e sensíveis para análise de vitaminas do complexo B e ferro em alimentos que apresentam tais micronutrientes em quantidades baixas, porém significativas, que correspondem aos teores naturalmente presentes. O objetivo do presente trabalho é a avaliação dos teores de sete vitaminas do complexo B (B1, B2, B6, ácido pantotênico, ácido fólico, niacina e biotina) e ferro em cinco farinhas de cereais (aveia, arroz, cevada, milho e trigo) utilizadas como matéria prima de produtos enriquecidos na indústria alimentícia, utilizando métodos validados. / Complex B vitamins and iron are present in some cereal foods, a kind of food largely consumed by Brazilian people. The total of these micronutrients can be significant at the dairy ingestion portion and in the consume of industrialized products enriched with complex B vitamins and iron contribute in the recommended dietary intake of these micronutrients. Table of food composition do not report complete data of complex B vitamins and iron in cereal flours. In Brazil, since 2002 the addition of folic acid and iron in com and wheat flours is compulsory. Therefore, to adapt the label of some products enriched with vitamins and iron, there is necessary the development and validation of analytical methods. These methods must be reliable and with enough sensitivity to analyse complex B vitamins and iron, in low concentration, wich are natural content in food. The purpose of this work is the evaluation, with validated methods, of the content of seven complex B vitamíns (B1, B2, B6, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and biotin) and iron in five kinds of cereal flours (oat, rice, barley, com and wheat). These raw materiais are used in food industry in order to enrich the industrialized products.

A metionina sintase redutase (MTRR) catalisa a redução da cobalamina (Cbl) oxidada a metilcobalamina. Em presença de folato, a metionina sintase (MTR) utiliza a metilcobalamina como cofator na metilação da homocisteína (tHcy) a metionina. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos dos polimorfismos MTR A2756G e MTRR A66G nas concentrações dos metabólitos marcadores de deficiência de Cbl e folato em gestantes e neonatos. Os genótipos dos polimorfismos MTR A2756G e MTRR A66G foram obtidos por PCR-RFLP. O genótipo MTR 2756AA foi relacionado aos maiores valores de tHcy em gestantes e MMA em neonatos. Gestantes com genótipos MTRR 66AG e GG e com menores concentrações de Cbl apresentaram maior risco de apresentar concentrações elevadas de tHcy. Neonatos com genótipos com MTRR 66AG e GG apresentaram menores valores de SAM. Os polimorfismos MTR A2756G e MTRR A66G interferem nas reações dependentes de Cbl e folato em gestantes e neonatos. / Methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) catalyzes the reductive reaction of oxidized cobalamin to methylcobalamin. When folate is present, methionine synthase (MTR) uses methylcobalamin cofactor at homocysteine to methionine methylation process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of MTR A2756G and MTRR A66G polymorphisms on total homocysteine (tHcy), methylmalonic acid (MMA), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) concentrations and SAM/SAH ratio in Brazilian pregnant women and their newborns. Genotypes of two polymorphisms were determined by PCR-RFLP. MTR 2756AA genotype was associated with higher tHcy and MMA levels in mothers and babies, respectivelly. Lower cobalamin concentrations associated with MTRR 66AG and GG genotypes increased risk to elevated tHcy levels in pregnant women. The SAM levels were lower in neonates with MTRR 66AG e GG genotypes. The polymorphisms MTR A2756G and MTRR A66G could affect cobalamin and folate dependent reactions in pregnant women and newborns.

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Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:21:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 parte1.pdf: 2426440 bytes, checksum: ed3c18b465357e2c561cffbd380b983f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-07-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The chemiluminescence (CL) of luminol-cobalt(II) reaction has been used in analytical systems for capillary electrophoresis, chromatography, -TAS (microTotal Analysis System), etc. Even with the diversity of applications, the steps of this reaction have not been completely elucidated and have been still a subject of research and controversy. Many works reported only to the isolated studies of the influence of each variable in the luminol-cobalt(II) reaction and, as such studies do not consider the interactions among variables, they do not exploit the total performance of this reaction in order to increase the chemiluminescent intensity (ICL). In this context, the use of an experimental design and a ChemiLumimetric Flow-Batch System (CLFBS) is proposed in this work in order to study and to optimize this reaction, aiming at to develop an automatic method to determine vitamin B12 (VB12) in drugs. For optimization purpose, a 24 factorial design was carried out fixing the cobalt concentration at 3.0 g L-1 and varying the concentration of luminol, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide and the order of mixture of these reagents. Sixteen assays were performed in five replicates, generating a total of eighty experiments. The analysis using normal plot of the experimental design revealed that the luminol concentration and the order of mixture of the reagents are variables more important than the NaOH or H2O2 concentrations to luminol-cobalt(II) reaction. These two parameters were responsible to enhance the chemiluminescent signal in about 80%. Another study was carried out in order to evaluate the CLFBS performance by using the optimized variables which were suggested by the factorial design study. Calibration curves were built by using standard solution of Co(II) and VB12 and the analytical parameters for Co(II) curve were: ΔICL = -21.39 +1771.37[Co2+] (r2 = 0.9996), LD and LQ = 12.0 ng L-1, RSD = 1.8% (n = 5), analytical sensitivity = 1947.29 W/g L-1; and VB12 curve were: ΔICL = -186.71 + 12.90 [VB12] (r2 = 0.9999), LD = 14.53 mg L-1 and LQ = 14.70 mg L-1, RSD = 2.1% (n = 4) and analytical sensitivity = 10.76 W/μg L-1. The results of the vitamin B12 analysis in drug samples employing the luminol-cobalt(II) reaction and CLFBS were enough satisfactory. Relative errors smaller than 4% were obtained by using curve calibration or standard addition method. The recovery studies yield very good values, which were of 97 to 103%. In addition, a good agreement was obtained when a drug sample was analyzed by the proposed and the reference (HPLC) method. Thus, the automatic chemilumimetric method, which was here developed and optimized, can be considered a promising alternative to quality control of vitamin B12 in drugs. / A quimiluminescência (QL) da reação luminol-cobalto(II) vem sendo empregada em sistemas analíticos de eletroforese capilar, cromatografia, -TAS (microTotal Analysis System), etc. Mesmo com a diversidade de aplicações, essa reação possui etapas pouco elucidadas que continuam sendo alvo de pesquisas e polêmicas. Muitos trabalhos relatam apenas estudos isolados da influência de cada variável na reação luminol-cobalto(II) e, por não considerar as interações entre as variáveis, estes estudos não exploram ao máximo a performance analítica desta reação. Neste contexto, foi proposto neste trabalho o uso de um planejamento experimental e de um Sistema Quimilumimétrico Fluxo-Batelada (SQLFB) para o estudo e a otimização desta reação com vista a desenvolver um método automático para a determinação de vitamina B12 (VB12) em medicamentos. Na otimização, foi utilizado um planejamento fatorial 24 em que foi mantido constante a concentração de cobalto(II) em 3,0 g L-1 enquanto variou-se as concentrações de luminol, peróxido de hidrogênio, hidróxido de sódio e a ordem de mistura destes constituintes. Foram efetuados dezesseis ensaios em quintuplicata, perfazendo um total de 80 experimentos realizados. A análise usando o gráfico normal do planejamento experimental revelou que a concentração de luminol ([Lu]) e a ordem da mistura (OM) dos reagentes são variáveis mais importante do que a concentração de NaOH e H2O2 para a reação luminol-cobalto(II). Ambas variáveis [Lu] e OM foram responsáveis por aumentar o sinal quimiluminescente em cerca de 80%. Um outro estudo foi realizado para avaliar a performance do SQLFB, empregando as variáveis otimizadas que foram sugeridas pelo estudo do planejamento fatorial. Curvas de calibração foram construídas utilizando soluções padrão de Co(II) e de VB12 e os parâmetros analíticos para a curva Co(II) foram: ΔIQL=-21,39+1771,37[Co2+](r2 = 0,9996), LD=1,54 ng L-1 e LQ=5,13 ng L-1, DPR=1,8% (n=5) e sensibilidade analítica=1947,29 Watts/μg L-1; e para a curva VB12 foram: ΔIQL= -186,71 + 12,90[VB12] (r2 = 0,9999), LD=0,89 μg L-1 e LQ = 2,98 μg L-1, DPR=2,1% (n=4) e sensibilidade analítica=10,76 Watts/μg L-1. Os resultados obtidos nas análises de vitamina B12 em medicamentos empregando a reação luminol-cobalto(II) e o SQLFB foram bastante satisfatórios. Erros relativos menores do que 4% foram obtidos empregando as técnicas de curva de calibração e de adição de padrão. Em estudos de recuperação, os valores foram também muito bons, ficando entre 97 e 103%. Além disso, uma boa concordância entre os resultados foi obtida quando uma amostra foi analisada empregando o método aqui proposto e o método de referência (HPLC). Portanto, o método quimilumimétrico automático aqui desenvolvido e otimizado pode ser considerado uma alternativa promissora para o controle de qualidade de vitamina B12 em medicamentos.