Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) synthesizes 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, a methyl donor for conversion of homocysteine to methionine. A common thermolabile variant causes mild MTHFR deficiency, induces mild hyperhomocysteinemia when plasma folate levels are low and increases risk for neural tube defects (NTD) and pregnancy loss. To increase our understanding of Mthfr regulation, the 5' and 3' regions of the mouse cDNA and gene were characterized. These studies revealed two major promoters, an internal coding exon in the 5'UTR, alternative transcriptional and translational start sites and alternative splicing and polyadenylation. These data suggest that Mthfr regulation is likely to be complex. To investigate the role of Mthfr in NTD, several approaches were taken. First, folate and MTHFR co-factor, flavin adenine dinucleotide, were shown to stabilize normal and thermolabile MTHFR during heat inactivation, suggesting that folate might prevent hyperhomocysteinemia in individuals with thermolabile enzyme through protein stabilization. Next, in situ hybridization of neurulating mouse embryos showed that Mthfr is expressed in the forebrain, hindbrain, branchial arches, blood vessels, gut, and importantly, in the ventral part of the neural tube. Mthfr+/- mice were then used as a model of mild deficiency to address the effects of maternal and embryonic Mthfr deficiency on development. When combined with inadequate dietary folate, Mthfr +/- pregnant females showed a two-fold higher rate of pregnancy loss than Mthfr+/+ pregnant females. As well, a percentage of day 10.5 embryos from only the Mthfr+/- pregnant females were underdeveloped by 2 days. These effects were not apparent when dietary folate was sufficient, consistent with a genetic-nutritional interactive effect. Finally, folate metabolism was investigated in an NTD model, the curly-tail (ct) mouse, since the ct defect and Mthfr were mapped in close proximity. However, Mthfr sequence in ct mice was simila

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Nutritional and/or genetic disruptions in homocysteine metabolism can cause hyperhomocysteinemia. Mild methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency due to the 677C → T mutation in the MTHFR gene is the most common genetic cause of hyperhomocysteinemia. The 677C → T variant is associated with an increased risk for neural tube defects, pregnancy complications, schizophrenia and Down syndrome, and with a decreased risk for colon cancer and leukemia. This variant is also a potential risk factor for vascular disease. Severe MTHFR deficiency results in homocystinuria, an inborn error of metabolism with neurological and vascular complications. We have generated mice with a knockout of the Mthfr gene. The Mthfr-deficient mice exhibit hyperhomocysteinemia and decreased methylation capacity. The Mthfr+/- mice appear normal, whereas the Mthfr-/- mice are smaller and have reduced survival. Abnormal external granule neuron development associated with increased cell death in the cerebellum was observed in the Mthfr-/- mice. / Evidence for cardiovascular pathology was obtained in several ways. Impaired aortic relaxation response to acetylcholine was seen in the Mthfr +/- mice fed a high methionine diet. Both Mthfr+/- and Mthfr-/- mice fed a low folate high methionine diet developed myocardial fibrosis in the left ventricle. Abnormal lipid deposition in the proximal portion of the aorta was observed in older Mthfr+/- and Mthfr-/- mice. After crossing Mthfr -deficient mice with apoE-null mice, we demonstrated that MTHFR deficiency promoted atherogenesis and its progression in the apoE-null mice. / Gene expression in brain of Mthfr-deficient mice was investigated via microarray analysis. Five genes with altered expression in the brain of Mthfr-/- mouse were validated by RT-PCR. In biochemical studies of human MTHFR, both FAD and folate were shown to stabilize the purified recombinant wild type and mutant MTHFRs from the baculovirus expression system against heat inactivation. The effect of folate appeared to be secondary to that of FAD, and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) inhibited purified wild type and mutant MTHFRs with similar efficiency. / This dissertation will significantly contribute to our understanding of the role of MTHFR in human disease.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase catalyzes the reduction of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, a carbon donor for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Patients with severe MTHFR deficiency have $<$20% residual enzyme activity, moderate hyperhomocysteinemia, vascular lesions and neurological dysfunction. Mildly-deficient individuals with a thermolabile enzyme are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease. / Two MTHFR sequence changes were identified. The first was a C to T transition at bp 764 altering a proline to a leucine codon; this change was found in one severely-deficient patient. The second was a C to T transition at bp 677, substituting a valine for a highly-conserved alanine codon. The $ rm A to V$ substitution was identified on 35-40% of chromosomes. Expression of the $ rm A to V$ mutation in prokaryotic cells revealed increased thermolability over the wild-type enzyme. Genotyping for the $ rm A to V$ mutation in three vascular disease studies showed that it was associated with mild hyperhomocysteinemia, a risk factor for vascular disease. / The preventative effects of folate supplementation on the occurrence and recurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) have been repeatedly demonstrated. The curly-tail (ct) mouse model for NTDs was used to investigate the involvement of MTHFR in these defects. Ct mice had significantly increased homocysteine levels although differences in MTHFR activity were not demonstrated. The mouse MTHFR gene was mapped to distal chromosome 4, close to the major gene for NTDs in ct. MTHFR is suggested as a candidate locus for the ct defect.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Biochemistry) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-161). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Recent studies suggest that folic acid nutritional status may be poor among Canadian Indians, particularly among those living in isolated areas. However the prevalence and causes of folic acid deficiency have not been assessed. The present study was conducted in order to assess the magnitude of the problem among British Columbia Indians and to examine the possible relationship between low dietary intakes of folic acid and the occurrence of low blood folate values. Using a 24-hour diet recall, dietary folate intakes were estimated at four relatively isolated Indian reserves (106 subjects) and at three reserves adjacent to urban centres (144 subjects). A more detailed study, involving estimation of dietary folate intake, measurement of serum and red blood cell folate, and examination of related hematological parameters was undertaken at one isolated reserve (Fort Ware, 28 subjects) and two non-isolated reserves (Necoslie and Sechelt, 63 subjects) as well as at a school residence (70 children, age 6 to 16 years). Meal samples were collected and assayed for folic acid, in order to verify the recall calculations. Results indicate that calculated and assayed folate values are similar and are significantly correlated (r=.9694). Total folate consumption is significantly higher at non-isolated reserves than at isolated reserves, and males consume significantly more folic acid than do females. Dietary folic acid intake is higher at the residence than at the reserves. Serum folate values are significantly correlated with dietary folate intake. Serum values are lower at Fort Ware than at Necoslie and Sechelt. Children living on reserves have lower serum folate values than do children living in residence, and have a larger proportion of children classified as "at risk". On the basis of red cell folate values, 16 to 45% of the subjects at the three reserves are classified as "at risk", however, no evidence of megaloblastic anemia is indicated from the hematological examinations. It is concluded that many individuals are either bordering on or are deficient with respect to folic acid. This appears to be a more serious problem at isolated reserves than at those adjacent to urban centres and it is suggested that this is a consequence of the availability, variety and selection of foods. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

No description available.

Embora os efeitos teratogênicos do etanol sejam bem conhecidos, ele ainda é um agente exógeno muito usado por mulheres em idade reprodutiva e sabe-se que ele interfere com o transporte, absorção e metabolismo do ácido fólico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os efeitos da administração de etanol, da deficiência do ácido fólico na dieta e da associação desses dois fatores durante a gestação de camundongos Swiss. O estudo foi feito com dois experimentos, no primeiro examinou-se a influência do etanol diluído em salina a 25% (v/v) em doses baixa (0,4g/Kg de peso corporal) e alta (4,0g/Kg de peso corporal) em animais alimentados com ração comercial e no segundo a influência do etanol nas mesmas doses em animais alimentados com dieta deficiente em folato. Em ambos os experimentos os animais foram divididos em 6 grupos com 6 animais cada: C= controle; Eb= etanol baixa dose; Ea= etanol alta dose (Experimento 1) e DF= controle da deficiência de folato; DFEb= deficiência de folato + etanol baixa dose; DFEa= deficiência de folato + etanol alta dose (Experimento 2). Os animais dos Grupos C e DF receberam apenas salina. Etanol e salina foram administrados por via intraperitoneal, em três dias consecutivos da gestação: 7°, 8° e 9°. A eutanásia foi realizada em câmara de CO2 no 18º dia gestacional e os cornos uterinos foram retirados por cesárea para observação e contagem dos fetos vivos, mortes fetais tardias e reabsorções. Anomalias congênitas foram encontradas apenas no Grupo Ea, representadas por defeito de fechamento do tubo neural isolado (6,45%), agenesia de membros e cauda (6,45%), defeito de fechamento do tubo neural associado a defeito da face média (2,15%) e gastrosquise (1,08%). Foi observada entre os grupos variação no número de fetos vivos (C= 98,97%; Eb= 97,98%; Ea= 87,74%; DF= 90,91%; DFEb = 72,22%; DFEa= 61,39%), de reabsorções (C= 1,03%; Eb= 2,02%; Ea= 1,89%; DF= 8,08%; DFEb= 14,44%; DFEa= 18,81%) e de mortes fetais tardais (C= 0; Eb= 0; Ea= 10,38%; DF= 1,01%; DFEb= 13,33%; DFEa= 19,80%). Houve variação no comprimento vértice-sacral fetal (machos/fêmeas: C= 2,6/2,5cm; Eb= 2,5/2,5cm; Ea= 2,4/2,3cm; DF=2,4/2,3cm; DFEb= 2,0/2,0cm; DFEa= 1,9/1,8cm), no peso corpóreo fetal (machos/fêmeas: C= 1,50/1,40g; Eb= 1,49/1,40g; Ea= 1,31/1,19g; DF= 1,28/1,17g; DFEb= 0,81/0,82g; DFEa= 0,83/0,73g), no diâmetro placentário (machos/fêmeas: C=0,8/0,8cm; Eb= 0,8/0,7cm; Ea= 0,8/0,7cm; DF= 0,8/0,8cm; DFEb= 0,8/0,8cm; DFEa= 0,7/0,7cm) e no peso placentário (machos/fêmeas: C= 0,14/0,12g; Eb= 0,14/0,11g; Ea= 0,12/0,10g; DF= 0,13/0,11g; DFEb= 0,09/0,09g; DFEa= 0,09/0,09g). Os resultados indicam que alta dose de etanol durante o consumo de ração comercial é mais deletério que baixa dose, pois além de provocar anomalias congênitas, causou restrição do crescimento intra-uterino e placentário e produziu mortes fetais tardias. A deficiência de ácido fólico, por si só, também é deletéria, interferiu com o desenvolvimento fetal e placentário e produziu reabsorções. A associação da deficiência de folato e etanol agravou ainda mais esse desenvolvimento e produziu um maior número de reabsorções e mortes fetais tardias. Além disso, na deficiência de folato, baixa dose de etanol foi tão deletéria quanto alta dose, indicando que a nutrição materna tem um papel fundamental no desenvolvimento fetal. Dessa forma, a ação sinérgica de dois fatores isolados, etanol e deficiência de ácido fólico, permite reforçar a noção do risco humano em condições semelhantes, já que mulheres jovens tendem a apresentar mais deficiência de ácido fólico e estão mais expostas a comportamentos que levam ao consumo de etanol. / In spite of the well known teratogenic effect of ethanol, it is still the most consumed exogenous abuse substance by women of reproductive age. Ethanol also impairs the absorption, transport and metabolism of folic acid. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol, dietary deficiency of folic acid and the association of both on the outcome of Swiss mouse pregnancy. We aimed to analyze the result of low (0.4g/Kg) and high (4g/Kg) of ethanol dose diluted in saline 25% (v/v) given to animals fed a commercial diet (Experiment I) or its effect on mice fed a folate-free diet (Experiment II). The pregnant mice were divided in 6 groups of 6 animals each: (Experiment I) C=Control; low dose ethanol (Eb); high dose ethanol (Ea); (Experiment II) DF= Control of Folate deficiency; DFEb= Folate deficiency plus low dose ethanol, and DFa= Folate deficiency plus high dose ethanol. On the 7th, 8th and 9th gestational day (GD) either saline (Groups C and DF) or ethanol (other groups) were administered by intraperitoneal injection and the sacrifice was on the 18th GD on a CO2 chamber after which the uterine horns were harvested by cesarean section for examination and counting of live fetuses, late fetal death and resorptions. Congenital anomalies were found only in Group Ea, represented by isolated Neural Tube Defect (NTD) (6.45%), limb and tail agenesis (6,45%), NTD plus middle face anomaly (2,15%) and gastroschisis (1,08%). The number of live fetuses (C= 98,97%; Eb= 97,98%; Ea= 87,74%; DF= 90,91%; DFEb = 72,22%; DFEa= 61,39%), resorptions (C= 1,03%; Eb= 2,02%; Ea= 1,89%; DF= 8,08%; DFEb= 14,44%; DFEa= 18,81%) and late fetal death (C= 0; Eb= 0; Ea= 10,38%; DF= 1,01%; DFEb= 13,33%; DFEa= 19,80%) differed among groups. It was also noted a gender related variation in crown-rump length (male/female: C= 2,6/2,5cm; Eb= 2,5/2,5cm; Ea= 2,4/2,3cm; DF=2,4/2,3cm; DFEb= 2,0/2,0cm; DFEa= 1,9/1,8cm), body weight (male/female:C= 1,50/1,40g; Eb= 1,49/1,40g; Ea= 1,31/1,19g; DF= 1,28/1,17g; DFEb= 0,81/0,82g; DFEa= 0,83/0,73g), placental diameter (male/female: C=0,8/0,8cm; Eb= 0,8/0,7cm; Ea= 0,8/0,7cm; DF= 0,8/0,8cm; DFEb= 0,8/0,8cm; DFEa= 0,7/0,7cm) and placental weight (male/female: C= 0,14/0,12g; Eb= 0,14/0,11g; Ea= 0,12/0,10g; DF= 0,13/0,11g; DFEb= 0,09/0,09g; DFEa= 0,09/0,09g). Our results indicate that high ethanol dose given to pregnant mice fed on a commercial diet is more deleterious than low dose because it induced congenital anomalies and intrauterine growth restriction, decreased placental weight and diameter and increased fetal death. Isolated folic acid deficiency is harmful to gestation, decreasing fetal and placental development and inducing resorptions. The association of ethanol and folic acid deficiency increased the developmental impairment and induced more resorption and late fetal death. In folate deficient mice, low dose of ethanol was as detrimental as high dose indicating that maternal nutritional status plays a major role in fetal development. In conclusion, the synergistic action of two factors, ethanol and folate deficiency, may help to understand the human risk in similar situation, as young women are prone to this vitamin deficiency and are more exposed to a behavior that stimulate alcohol intake.

Embora os efeitos teratogênicos do etanol sejam bem conhecidos, ele ainda é um agente exógeno muito usado por mulheres em idade reprodutiva e sabe-se que ele interfere com o transporte, absorção e metabolismo do ácido fólico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os efeitos da administração de etanol, da deficiência do ácido fólico na dieta e da associação desses dois fatores durante a gestação de camundongos Swiss. O estudo foi feito com dois experimentos, no primeiro examinou-se a influência do etanol diluído em salina a 25% (v/v) em doses baixa (0,4g/Kg de peso corporal) e alta (4,0g/Kg de peso corporal) em animais alimentados com ração comercial e no segundo a influência do etanol nas mesmas doses em animais alimentados com dieta deficiente em folato. Em ambos os experimentos os animais foram divididos em 6 grupos com 6 animais cada: C= controle; Eb= etanol baixa dose; Ea= etanol alta dose (Experimento 1) e DF= controle da deficiência de folato; DFEb= deficiência de folato + etanol baixa dose; DFEa= deficiência de folato + etanol alta dose (Experimento 2). Os animais dos Grupos C e DF receberam apenas salina. Etanol e salina foram administrados por via intraperitoneal, em três dias consecutivos da gestação: 7°, 8° e 9°. A eutanásia foi realizada em câmara de CO2 no 18º dia gestacional e os cornos uterinos foram retirados por cesárea para observação e contagem dos fetos vivos, mortes fetais tardias e reabsorções. Anomalias congênitas foram encontradas apenas no Grupo Ea, representadas por defeito de fechamento do tubo neural isolado (6,45%), agenesia de membros e cauda (6,45%), defeito de fechamento do tubo neural associado a defeito da face média (2,15%) e gastrosquise (1,08%). Foi observada entre os grupos variação no número de fetos vivos (C= 98,97%; Eb= 97,98%; Ea= 87,74%; DF= 90,91%; DFEb = 72,22%; DFEa= 61,39%), de reabsorções (C= 1,03%; Eb= 2,02%; Ea= 1,89%; DF= 8,08%; DFEb= 14,44%; DFEa= 18,81%) e de mortes fetais tardais (C= 0; Eb= 0; Ea= 10,38%; DF= 1,01%; DFEb= 13,33%; DFEa= 19,80%). Houve variação no comprimento vértice-sacral fetal (machos/fêmeas: C= 2,6/2,5cm; Eb= 2,5/2,5cm; Ea= 2,4/2,3cm; DF=2,4/2,3cm; DFEb= 2,0/2,0cm; DFEa= 1,9/1,8cm), no peso corpóreo fetal (machos/fêmeas: C= 1,50/1,40g; Eb= 1,49/1,40g; Ea= 1,31/1,19g; DF= 1,28/1,17g; DFEb= 0,81/0,82g; DFEa= 0,83/0,73g), no diâmetro placentário (machos/fêmeas: C=0,8/0,8cm; Eb= 0,8/0,7cm; Ea= 0,8/0,7cm; DF= 0,8/0,8cm; DFEb= 0,8/0,8cm; DFEa= 0,7/0,7cm) e no peso placentário (machos/fêmeas: C= 0,14/0,12g; Eb= 0,14/0,11g; Ea= 0,12/0,10g; DF= 0,13/0,11g; DFEb= 0,09/0,09g; DFEa= 0,09/0,09g). Os resultados indicam que alta dose de etanol durante o consumo de ração comercial é mais deletério que baixa dose, pois além de provocar anomalias congênitas, causou restrição do crescimento intra-uterino e placentário e produziu mortes fetais tardias. A deficiência de ácido fólico, por si só, também é deletéria, interferiu com o desenvolvimento fetal e placentário e produziu reabsorções. A associação da deficiência de folato e etanol agravou ainda mais esse desenvolvimento e produziu um maior número de reabsorções e mortes fetais tardias. Além disso, na deficiência de folato, baixa dose de etanol foi tão deletéria quanto alta dose, indicando que a nutrição materna tem um papel fundamental no desenvolvimento fetal. Dessa forma, a ação sinérgica de dois fatores isolados, etanol e deficiência de ácido fólico, permite reforçar a noção do risco humano em condições semelhantes, já que mulheres jovens tendem a apresentar mais deficiência de ácido fólico e estão mais expostas a comportamentos que levam ao consumo de etanol. / In spite of the well known teratogenic effect of ethanol, it is still the most consumed exogenous abuse substance by women of reproductive age. Ethanol also impairs the absorption, transport and metabolism of folic acid. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol, dietary deficiency of folic acid and the association of both on the outcome of Swiss mouse pregnancy. We aimed to analyze the result of low (0.4g/Kg) and high (4g/Kg) of ethanol dose diluted in saline 25% (v/v) given to animals fed a commercial diet (Experiment I) or its effect on mice fed a folate-free diet (Experiment II). The pregnant mice were divided in 6 groups of 6 animals each: (Experiment I) C=Control; low dose ethanol (Eb); high dose ethanol (Ea); (Experiment II) DF= Control of Folate deficiency; DFEb= Folate deficiency plus low dose ethanol, and DFa= Folate deficiency plus high dose ethanol. On the 7th, 8th and 9th gestational day (GD) either saline (Groups C and DF) or ethanol (other groups) were administered by intraperitoneal injection and the sacrifice was on the 18th GD on a CO2 chamber after which the uterine horns were harvested by cesarean section for examination and counting of live fetuses, late fetal death and resorptions. Congenital anomalies were found only in Group Ea, represented by isolated Neural Tube Defect (NTD) (6.45%), limb and tail agenesis (6,45%), NTD plus middle face anomaly (2,15%) and gastroschisis (1,08%). The number of live fetuses (C= 98,97%; Eb= 97,98%; Ea= 87,74%; DF= 90,91%; DFEb = 72,22%; DFEa= 61,39%), resorptions (C= 1,03%; Eb= 2,02%; Ea= 1,89%; DF= 8,08%; DFEb= 14,44%; DFEa= 18,81%) and late fetal death (C= 0; Eb= 0; Ea= 10,38%; DF= 1,01%; DFEb= 13,33%; DFEa= 19,80%) differed among groups. It was also noted a gender related variation in crown-rump length (male/female: C= 2,6/2,5cm; Eb= 2,5/2,5cm; Ea= 2,4/2,3cm; DF=2,4/2,3cm; DFEb= 2,0/2,0cm; DFEa= 1,9/1,8cm), body weight (male/female:C= 1,50/1,40g; Eb= 1,49/1,40g; Ea= 1,31/1,19g; DF= 1,28/1,17g; DFEb= 0,81/0,82g; DFEa= 0,83/0,73g), placental diameter (male/female: C=0,8/0,8cm; Eb= 0,8/0,7cm; Ea= 0,8/0,7cm; DF= 0,8/0,8cm; DFEb= 0,8/0,8cm; DFEa= 0,7/0,7cm) and placental weight (male/female: C= 0,14/0,12g; Eb= 0,14/0,11g; Ea= 0,12/0,10g; DF= 0,13/0,11g; DFEb= 0,09/0,09g; DFEa= 0,09/0,09g). Our results indicate that high ethanol dose given to pregnant mice fed on a commercial diet is more deleterious than low dose because it induced congenital anomalies and intrauterine growth restriction, decreased placental weight and diameter and increased fetal death. Isolated folic acid deficiency is harmful to gestation, decreasing fetal and placental development and inducing resorptions. The association of ethanol and folic acid deficiency increased the developmental impairment and induced more resorption and late fetal death. In folate deficient mice, low dose of ethanol was as detrimental as high dose indicating that maternal nutritional status plays a major role in fetal development. In conclusion, the synergistic action of two factors, ethanol and folate deficiency, may help to understand the human risk in similar situation, as young women are prone to this vitamin deficiency and are more exposed to a behavior that stimulate alcohol intake.

Epidemiological evidence linking dietary folate deficiency and risk for colorectal cancer is conflicting. Studies using animal models indicate that timing, dose and presence of pre-malignant lesions will influence whether folate deficiency prevents or promotes tumor formation. In this thesis a new model of spontaneous tumor formation due to long-term dietary folate deficiency alone, in non-transgenic mice and without carcinogen induction, is developed. The mechanisms by which folate deficiency might influence cancer risk are also examined. / BALB/c mice, with or without a null allele in a key folate-metabolizing enzyme, Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (Mthfr ), develop intestinal tumors due to dietary folate deficiency alone. On folate-deficient (FD) diets, 12.5% of Mthfr+/+ mice and 28.1% of Mthfr+/- mice developed tumors; mice on control diet (CD) did not. C57B1/6 mice (a strain resistant to other methods of tumor induction) placed on the same diets for the same amount of time did not develop any tumors. To investigate possible mechanisms the levels of DNA damage (dUTP/dTTP ratio and p-H2AX staining) and DNA methylation (thin layer chromatography) were examined. FD BALB/c, but not C57B1/6 mice, had a trend towards increased dUTP/dTTP and DNA double-strand breaks and decreased global DNA methylation compared to CD mice. To determine why the FD diet affects the BALB/c and not the C57Bl/6 strain, the expression of genes involved in folate metabolism was examined. Several changes in gene expression were observed. In particular, BALB/c mice had increased Mthfr expression and MTHFR activity compared to C57Bl/6 mice. Increased MTHFR activity may deplete 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate supplies for the dTMP synthesis, increasing the dUMP levels and, possibly, DNA damage. The levels of several DNA repair genes were also examined. Two genes involved in base excision repair, Thymine DNA glycosylase (Tdg) and Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (Apex1), were increased in FD C57B1/6 compared to FD BALB/c mice suggesting increased DNA repair capacity. / These results support the evidence that dietary folate deficiency promotes intestinal tumor formation possibly through increased DNA damage, with subsequent defects in DNA repair.