Prevention of pathologies associated with oxidative stress and dietary intake deficiencies: folate deficiency and requirements

Folate (folic acid, folacin) is an essential vitamin that is found in natur e. Folates contain the core chemical structure of pteroylglutamic acid, but vary in their state of reduction, the single carbon moiety they bear and/o r the length of the glutamate chain. At least 50% of whole body folate is s tored in the liver. The influence of intracellular folate concentration dep ends largely on dietary intake. The supply of folate depends primarily on t he quantity and bioavailability of ingested folate and the rate of loss by urinary and fecal routes and through catabolism. (C) 2001 Editions scientif iques et medicales Elsevier SAS.