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Aleurone flour increases red-cell folate and lowers plasma homocyst(e)ine substantially in man

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Michael Fenech ,
Manny Noakes ,
Peter Clifton  and
David Topping
Michael Fenech*
Affiliation:
CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition, PO Box 10041, Gouger Street, Adelaide, BC, SA 5000, Australia
Manny Noakes
Affiliation:
CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition, PO Box 10041, Gouger Street, Adelaide, BC, SA 5000, Australia
Peter Clifton
Affiliation:
CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition, PO Box 10041, Gouger Street, Adelaide, BC, SA 5000, Australia
David Topping
Affiliation:
CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition, PO Box 10041, Gouger Street, Adelaide, BC, SA 5000, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Michael Fenech, fax +61 (08) 8303 8899, email, michael.fenech@csiro.au
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Abstract

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Aleurone flour (ALF) is a rich source of natural folate (>500 μg/100 g wet weight). Our objective was to establish whether intake of ALF in man can significantly improve folate status and reduce plasma homocyst(e)ine. We performed a randomised, controlled intervention, of 16 weeks duration, in free-living healthy individuals (mean age 46–52 years). Participants were assigned to one of three groups: ALF, 175 g bread made with ALF and placebo tablet each day; PCS, 175 g bread made with pericarp seed coat (PCS) flour and placebo tablet each day (low-folate control); or FA, 175 g bread made with PCS flour and tablet containing 640 μg folic acid each day (high-folate control). The daily folate intake contributed by the bread and tablet was 233 μg in the PCS group, 615 μg in the ALF group and 819 μg in the FA group. The number of participants completing all phases of the PCS, ALF and FA interventions was twenty-five, twenty-five and eighteen, respectively. Plasma and red-cell folate increased significantly (P<0·0001) and plasma homocyst(e)ine decreased significantly (P<0·0001) in the ALF and FA groups only. Plasma folate and red-cell folate in the ALF group (mean, 95 % CI) increased from baseline values of 12·9 (9·9, 15·7) nmol/l and 509 (434, 584) nmol/l to 27·1 (22·5, 31·7) nmol/l and 768 (676, 860) nmol/l, respectively. Plasma homocyst(e)ine in the ALF group decreased from 9·1 (8·2, 10·0) μmol/l at baseline to 6·8 (6·2, 7·5) μmol/l after 16 weeks. In conclusion, moderate dietary intake of ALF can increase red-cell folate and decrease plasma homocyst(e)ine substantially.

Keywords

AleuroneBreadFolateFolic acidHomocyst(e)ineMan
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 93 , Issue 3 , March 2005 , pp. 353 - 360
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

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