Effects of Riboflavin Interactions with 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate and Tetrahydrofolate on Changes in Homocysteine and Folate Derivative Levels, with and without Methionine Addition

Risa Araki, Kiho Imada, Makiko Hikichi, Yukiko Arai, Hihumi Kashima, Chizuko Maruyama

Department of Food and Nutrition, Japan Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan..
Department of Food and Nutrition, Japan Women’s University, Tokyo, Japan. Email: *[e-mail].

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2013.49124                

Abstract

Riboflavin has been suggested to act with folate to lower homocysteine (Hcy). However, these interactions may differ among the several known forms of folate. Therefore, we examined the effects of riboflavin interactions with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and tetrahydrofolate (THF) on changes in Hcy and folate derivative levels, under conditions with and without methionine addition. Rat hepatocytes were cultured for 48 hours in medium with or without 2.64 μM riboflavin addition, under the following conditions: 1) without the addition of either methionine or folate; 2) with addition of 2 μM folate derivatives [(A): 5-MTHF, (B): THF]; 3) with addition of both 5 mM methionine and 2 μM folate derivatives [(A): 5-MTHF, (B): THF]. The supernatants were collected at 0, 24, and 48 hours for Hcy and folate derivative measurements. The Hcy lowering effect of 5-MTHF, as well as inhibition of 5-MTHF reduction and THF elevation, appeared to be enhanced by riboflavin addition. THF addition did not lower the Hcy level, regardless of the presence of riboflavin and/or methionine, while THF and 5,10-methenyl THF levels were maintained. Further examination is needed to elucidate the interactive effects of riboflavin and folate derivatives on Hcy and folate metabolism.

Keywords

Folate Derivatives; Riboflavin; Interaction; Homocysteine

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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