Atherogenic diet alters folate enzymes in mice: Implications of folate deficient homocysteinemia

The two key enzymes, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine syn thase involved in methionine synthesis from homocysteine were studied in at herogenic diet fed mice. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase activity was e levated while methionine synthase was impaired in atherogenic diet fed grou p. Impaired methionine synthase activity would adversely affect the methion ine synthesis from homocysteine, resulting in a rise in the homocysteine le vels, which are atherogenic. This is reflected by the increased levels of v ery low density and low density lipoprotein cholesterol values and a higher ratio for total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol.