Folic acid does not improve endothelial function in obese children and adolescents

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dc.contributor.authorPena Vargas, A.
dc.contributor.authorWiltshire, E.
dc.contributor.authorGent, R.
dc.contributor.authorPiotto, L.
dc.contributor.authorHirte, C.
dc.contributor.authorCouper, J.
dc.date.issued2007
dc.description© 2007 by the American Diabetes Association
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVE—Obese children have severe endothelial dysfunction as measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD). We have shown that folic acid normalizes endothelial function in children with type 1 diabetes who have a similar degree of endothelial dysfunction but lower total plasma homocyst(e)ine (tHcy) and higher folate status. Our aim was to evaluate, for the first time, the effect of folate supplementation on endothelial dysfunction in obese children. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 53 obese subjects (26 male, mean ± SD age 13.3 ± 2.2 years, and BMI Z score 2.29 ± 0.25) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial of oral folic acid (5 mg/day) or placebo for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, we assessed endothelial function (FMD), smooth muscle function (glyceryl trinitrate–induced dilatation [GTN]), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tHcy, serum folate, red cell folate (RCF), and lipids. RESULTS—There were no group differences at baseline. FMD did not change with the intervention (folic acid group pre- and postintervention: 6.42 ± 5.03 and 6.56 ± 4.79%, respectively, vs. placebo group: 5.17 ± 3.54 and 5.79 ± 4.26%, respectively; P = 0.6). Folate supplementation increased serum folate and RCF by 18.4 nmol/l (P < 0.001) and 240.1 nmol/l (P < 0.001), respectively, and decreased tHcy by 0.95 µmol/l (P = 0.008). The intervention did not change GTN, hsCRP, or lipids. CONCLUSIONS—Folic acid supplementation does not improve endothelial function in obese children without diabetes despite increasing folate status and reducing tHcy. This is in contrast to the response to folate in children with type 1 diabetes.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityAlexia S. Peña, Esko Wiltshire, Roger Gent, Lino Piotto, Craig Hirte, and Jennifer Couper
dc.identifier.citationDiabetes Care, 2007; 30(8):2122-2127
dc.identifier.doi10.2337/dc06-2505
dc.identifier.issn0149-5992
dc.identifier.issn0149-5992
dc.identifier.orcidPena Vargas, A. [0000-0002-6834-4876]
dc.identifier.orcidCouper, J. [0000-0003-4448-8629]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/44383
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmer Diabetes Assoc
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.2337/dc06-2505
dc.subjectEndothelium, Vascular
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectObesity
dc.subjectFolic Acid
dc.subjectPlacebos
dc.subjectTreatment Failure
dc.subjectDouble-Blind Method
dc.subjectAdolescent
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectChild
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.titleFolic acid does not improve endothelial function in obese children and adolescents
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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