Folate administration decreases oxidative status and blood pressure in postmenopausal women

• Published in: European journal of nutrition Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 429 - 435
• Main Authors: Cagnacci, Angelo, Cannoletta, Marianna, Xholli, Anjeza, Piacenti, Ilaria, Palma, Federica, Palmieri, Beniamino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Double-Blind Method; Female; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; Insulin - blood; Insulin Resistance; Middle Aged; Nutrition; Original Contribution; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Postmenopause - drug effects; Tetrahydrofolates - administration & dosage; Triglycerides - blood; Insulin resistance; Blood pressure; Free radicals; Antioxidant; Lipid; Cardiovascular risk
• ISSN: 1436-6207; 1436-6215
• DOI: 10.1007/s00394-014-0726-8

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether folate exerts antioxidant effects in postmenopausal women and whether this effect is related to folate-induced modification of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP). Methods Double-blind placebo-controlled study performed in 30 apparently healthy postmenopausal women recruited at the outpatient service of University Hospital. Women, free from hormones or substances possibly interfering with the investigated parameters, were randomized to receive orally for 3 weeks placebo ( n  = 15) or 15 mg/day of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF; n  = 15). Whole-blood free oxygen radicals test (FORT), free oxygen radical defence (FORD), lipids, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance [homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)], homocysteine and 24-h ambulatory BP values were evaluated. Results In the entire group of women, FORT was independently and inversely related to the day–night difference of diastolic ( r  = 0.420; p  = 0.03) and mean BP ( r  = 0.497; p  = 0.01). Placebo did not affect any biochemical or BP parameter. 5-MTHF reduced FORT (−71.5 ± 98.2; p  = 0.02) and increased FORD (0.5 ± 0.9; p  = 0.05), decreased insulin ( p  = 0.01), HOMA-IR ( p  = 0.0002) and homocysteine ( p  = 0.008). During 5-MTHF, night-time mean ( p  = 0.001) and diastolic BP ( p  = 0.002) decreased of about 5 mmHg and the day–night difference of mean ( p  = 0.001) and diastolic BP ( p  = 0.002) contemporaneously increased. FORT reduction was related to the amplification of the nocturnal decline of mean (0.697; p  = 0.006) and diastolic BP ( r  = 0.777; p  = 0.002) and to the amplification of the day–night difference of diastolic BP ( r  = 0.63; p  = 0.015). Conclusions Present data show a clear reduction of oxidative stress during 5-MTHF administration and a strong correlation between this decrease and the nocturnal decline of BP. The possible link between the two is worthy to be explored.