Reduction of folic acid during baking and implications for mandatory fortification of bread

A pilot scale study designed to quantify the reduction of folic acid during bread baking in Ireland was undertaken. Flour was fortified with different concentrations of folic acid and used to make four different types of commercial bread. The dispersal of folic acid in flour on a pilot scale was variable but better homogeneity would have been achieved in the final bread due to batch size and thorough mixing of the dough. Generally, the heat degradation of folic acid during baking was between 21.9% and 32.1%. Whilst the percentage degradation of folic acid in white pan loaves, white baguettes and brown soda bread were similar the result in wholemeal bread was found to be significantly higher than in other bread types tested. Taking into account all variables affecting folic acid concentration during baking, a concentration of c. 225 μg 100 g^?1 folic acid would be needed in flour to deliver commercial bread in Ireland with an average folic acid content of 120 μg 100 g^?1 in line with Government requirements.     

Characteristics of reduced fat milks as influenced by the incorporation of folic acid

Folic acid plays an important role in the prevention of neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida and anencephaly), heart defects, facial clefts, urinary abnormalities, and limb deficiencies. Milk and milk products serve as a potential source for folic acid fortification because of the presence of folate-binding proteins that seem to be involved in folate bioavailability. Although milk is not a good source of folic acid, fortification could help in the prevention of the above-mentioned defects. The objective of this study was to examine the physicochemical characteristics of reduced fat milks fortified with folic acid. Reduced fat milks were prepared using 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended dietary allowance of 400 μg of folic acid. Treatments included addition of folic acid at these levels before and after pasteurization. Color, pH, fat, protein, viscosity, folic acid concentration, folate-binding protein concentration, folate-binding protein profile, standard plate count, and coliform counts were determined on d 1, 7, 14, and 21. A consumer acceptability test was conducted on d 7. Data from the consumer panel were analyzed using ANOVA (PROC GLM) with means separation to determine the differences among treatments. Data obtained from the color, pH, fat, protein, viscosity, folic acid concentration, folate-binding protein concentration, standard plate count, and coliform counts were analyzed using the GLM with a repeated measure in time. Significant differences were determined at P < 0.05 using Tukey's Studentized Range Test. There were no differences in the electrophoretic mobility of folate-binding protein in the samples. The concentration of folic acid was significantly higher in reduced fat milks fortified with folic acid after pasteurization compared with the treatments in which folic acid was added before pasteurization. The consumer panelists did not find any significant differences in flavor, appearance, or texture of folic acid fortified reduced fat milks compared with that of the control. Fortification of reduced fat milks with folic acid can be accomplished without adversely affecting the product characteristics.     

Effects of folic acid on the performance of suckling piglets and sows during lactation

BACKGROUND: The present research was conducted to investigate the influences of supplementation with different levels of folic acids in diet on the performance of lactating sows. Twenty Landrace × Yorkshire sows received the same basal corn–soybean diets (folic acid, 1.3 mg kg^?1) from gestation to parturition (day 107). After parturition, sows were allotted to four treatments: control group (folic acid supplementation level, 0 mg kg^?1), group 1 (12.5 mg kg^?1), group 2 (50 mg kg^?1) and group 3 (100 mg kg^?1), with five replicates of one sow. The experiment lasted for 21 days. RESULTS: (1) Folic acid increased milk production (P > 0.05). (2) Compared with the control, supplementation with folic acid (100 mg kg^?1) increased the concentration of butter fat, total substance and non‐lipoid substance significantly (P < 0.01), the concentration of milk protein was also significantly increased in group 2 and group 3 (P < 0.01) in milk. (3) Folic acid supplementation could increase litter weaning weight, average piglet weaning weight and average piglet daily gain (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that supplementation with folic acid in the diets of lactating sows increases milk production, improved milk quality and the performance of piglets. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

高效液相色谱法测定保健食品多维康胶囊中叶酸的含量

目的建立高效液相色谱法(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)测定多维康胶囊中叶酸含量的方法。方法采用C₁₈(150mm×4.6mm,5μm)色谱柱,以磷酸二氢钾-甲醇溶液为流动相,流速0.8 mL/min,检测波长254 nm,柱温30℃,进样体积10μL。结果叶酸的线性关系良好,相关系数为1.000;方法检出限为0.034μg/mL,定量限为0.091μg/mL;方法平均加标回收率为98.80%~104.17%,平均相对标准偏差为0.02%。结论该方法操作简单,灵敏度高,可作为保健食品多维康胶囊中叶酸的测定方法。     

Effects of dietary supplements of folic acid and vitamin B12 on metabolism of dairy cows in early lactation

The present experiment was undertaken to determine the effects of dietary supplements of folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ given from 3 wk before to 8 wk after calving on lactational performance and metabolism of 24 multiparous Holstein cows assigned to 6 blocks of 4 cows each according to their previous milk production. Supplementary folic acid at 0 or 2.6 g/d and vitamin B₁₂ at 0 or 0.5 g/d were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Supplementary folic acid increased milk production from 38.0 ± 0.9 to 41.4 ± 1.0 kg/d and milk crude protein yield from 1.17 ± 0.02 to 1.25 ± 0.03 kg/d. It also increased plasma Gly, Ser, Thr, and total sulfur AA, decreased Asp, and tended to increase plasma Met. Supplementary B₁₂ decreased milk urea N, plasma Ile, and Leu and tended to decrease Val but increased homocysteine, Cys, and total sulfur AA. Liver concentration of phospholipids was higher in cows fed supplementary B₁₂. Plasma and liver concentrations of folates and B₁₂ were increased by their respective supplements, but the increase in plasma folates and plasma and liver B₁₂ was smaller for cows fed the 2 vitamins together. In cows fed folic acid supplements, supplementary B₁₂ increased plasma glucose and alanine, tended to decrease plasma biotin, and decreased K_m of the methylmalonyl-coenzyme A mutase in hepatic tissues following addition of deoxyadenosylcobalamin, whereas it had no effect when cows were not fed folic acid supplements. There was no treatment effect on plasma nonesterified fatty acids as well as specific activity and gene expression of Met synthase and methylmalonyl-coenzyme A mutase in the liver. Ingestion of folic acid supplements by cows fed no supplementary B₁₂ increased total lipid and triacylglycerols in liver, whereas these supplements had no effect in cows supplemented with B₁₂. The increases in milk and milk protein yields due to folic acid supplements did not seem to be dependent on the vitamin B₁₂ supply. However, when vitamin B₁₂ was given in combination with folic acid, utilization of the 2 vitamins seems to be increased, probably more so in extrahepatic tissues. Metabolic efficiency seems also to be improved as suggested by similar lactational performance and dry matter intake for cows fed supplementary folic acid but increased plasma glucose and decreased hepatic lipids in cows fed folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ together.     

Irradiation is useful for manufacturing ready-to-eat cooked meat products enriched with folic acid

Cooked sausages enriched with folic acid (0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 mg/100 g) were manufactured as ready-to-eat (RTE) products using E-beam radiation (2-4 kGy) as a non-thermal technology. The effects of this treatment on the folic acid content, colour, texture and sensory properties of the final products were studied. The characteristics of sausages were not affected by the presence of folic acid, independently of the amount added, and their overall acceptability was good. Doses of 4 kGy caused losses of folic acid close to 20-30% and significantly decreased the sensory quality (P<0.05). Despite this, the final content of folic acid in all products was sufficient so that 50 g of product gave 100% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA). This new RTE meat product can be considered as a source of folic acid that can help assure adequate levels of this vitamin in the general population.     

Whole-body propionate and glucose metabolism of multiparous dairy cows receiving folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of supplementation of folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ on glucose and propionate metabolism. Twenty-four multiparous cows were assigned according to a complete block design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to one of the following treatments: (1) saline 0.9% NaCl, (2) 320 mg of folic acid, (3) 10 mg of vitamin B₁₂, or (4) 320 mg of folic acid and 10 mg of vitamin B₁₂. Intramuscular injections were given weekly from 3 wk before the expected calving date until 9 wk postpartum. At 63 d in milk, d-[6,6-²H₂]-glucose (16.5 mmol/h; jugular vein) and [1-¹³C]-sodium propionate (13.9 mmol/h; ruminal vein) were simultaneously infused for 4 h; blood samples were collected from 2 to 4 h of the infusion period. Liver biopsies were carried out the following day. Supplements of folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ respectively increased folate and vitamin B₁₂ concentrations, both in milk and liver. Although dry matter intake was unaffected by treatments, milk and milk lactose yields tended to be lower by 5.0 and by 0.25 kg/d, respectively, for cows receiving the folic acid supplement. Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentration with the folic acid supplement followed the same tendency. Hepatic gene expression of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase was higher for cows receiving the combined folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ supplement compared with cows receiving only the supplement of folic acid, whereas no treatment effect was noted for cows not receiving the folic acid supplement. Whole-body glucose rate of appearance and the proportion of whole-body glucose rate of appearance secreted in milk lactose decreased by 229 g/d and 5%, respectively, for animals receiving the folic acid supplement, concomitant with the lower milk lactose synthesis in these cows, indicating that supplementary folic acid may alter energy partitioning in cows. The absence of treatment effect on plasma concentrations of methylmalonic acid as well as on the proportion of glucose synthesized from propionate, averaging 60%, supports the fact that vitamin B₁₂ supply was sufficient in control cows in the current study. Our results suggest that the folic acid supplement reduced glucose-derived lactose synthesis by redirecting glucose for other metabolic activity in the mammary gland or in other tissues.     

The degradation of folic acid in a model food system and in beer

The rate of degradation of folic acid in the light and in the dark is investigated in a model buffer solution and in beer, with and without the addition of sulphur dioxide.In the model solution, held in the light, sulphur dioxide markedly accelerates the rate of degradation of folic acid whereas, in the dark, it exhibits a protective effect. In beer, the presence of sulphur dioxide has no effect on the degradation of folic acid, whether in the light or the dark. In the model solution, in the presence of sulphur dioxide, only the degradation product p-aminobenzoyl glutamic acid was identified. In the absence of sulphur dioxide and in the beer samples, pterin-6-carboxylic acid was additionally identified as a degradation product.     

产叶酸菌株的筛选及其发酵条件的优化

从土壤样本中筛选分离得到的菌株R-1和S-1具有产叶酸的能力,进行单因素实验和正交分析,优化碳源、氮源、初始pH、发酵时间等条件,叶酸产量提高约为10%;加入前体物质对氨基苯甲酸(PABA),菌株R-1和S-1产叶酸的能力显著提高,分别提高了2倍和1.8倍;最后进行正交分析得出各菌种的最佳发酵产叶酸的因素选择。结果显示,菌株R-1的最佳产叶酸条件是葡萄糖25g/L,柠檬酸铵4g/L,PABA0.3g/L,接种量2%,培养时间24h,初始pH6.5,叶酸产量达到了1.92μg/mL;菌株S-1最佳产叶酸条件是蔗糖20g/L,柠檬酸铵2g/L,PABA0.3g/L,接种量3%,培养时间48h,初始pH5.5,叶酸产量为1.31μg/mL。     

A comparison of enzyme preparations to liberate folic acid for the microbiological assay of feed ingredients

Microbiological assays were conducted to determine the level of total folate in feed ingredients using Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 7469). Fifty-seven samples of feedstuffs were collected from several locations in the southeastern USA by a major broiler producer. Folic acid contents of samples pretreated before assay with three enzymes (conjugase, α-amylase, a mixture of protease (Pronase®, were 22±86 ± 1.99 (μg per 100 g ± SD) for corn (N = 14), 22±01 + 1.18 for fish meal (N = 7), 29.34 ± 0.55 for milo (N = 4), 25.80 ± 6.93 for bakery meal (N = 5), 56.76 ± 4.97 for meat and bone meal (N = 4), 85.14 ± 2.56 for wheat middlings (N = 5), and 193.97 ± 11.19 for soybean meal (N = 18). Predigestion with conjugase, α-amylase and Pronase® liberated folic acid and increased values by 22.3% compared to conjugase predigestion alone (P≤0.05). This study shows that the traditional conjugase pretreatment does not completely free folate from complex feed ingredients for microbiological analysis.     

Effect of folic acid fortification on the characteristics of lemon yogurt

Development of dairy products with new flavors and health benefits helps the dairy industry increase sales of products as well as provide consumers with products they enjoy. Folic acid is used in the prevention of neural tube defects, heart defects, facial clefts, urinary tract abnormalities, and limb deficiencies. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different concentrations and stage of addition of folic acid on the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of lemon yogurt over a storage period. Lemon yogurts were manufactured with 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the RDA of 400 μg folic acid per 224 ml cup. Folic acid was added before and after pasteurization of yogurt mix. Moisture, ash, fat, and protein concentrations were measured at week 1 only. Folic acid concentration was measured at weeks 1 and 5. Viscosity, pH, TA, syneresis, color, and sensory analysis were measured at weeks 1, 3, and 5. Mean folic acid content values were higher when folic acid was added post-pasteurization. Average mean viscosity values were lower when folic acid added post-pasteurization. Greater syneresis was seen in samples where folic acid was added post-pasteurization. Less viscous yogurts had more free whey resulting in higher syneresis values. Level of folic acid impacted flavor scores. As level of folic acid increased, flavor scores decreased.     

涡旋振荡提取-高效液相色谱-紫外检测法测定铁叶酸片中的叶酸含量

摘要：目的建立涡旋振荡提取-高效液相色谱-紫外检测法（high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet, HPLC-UV）快速测定保健食品铁叶酸片中叶酸含量的分析方法。方法样品研磨成粉后,取样0.1 g, 加入0.3%的氨溶液25 mL,之后立即在旋涡混合器中涡旋振荡提取3 min。静置3 min后取上清液,滤膜过滤后,结合HPLC-UV方法进行含量检测。结果改进后的涡旋振荡提取法相比于常规的超声及加热提取法,前处理时间更短,提取效率更高,而且能够良好的避免基质中亚铁离子对含量测定的影响。叶酸在0.0054~0.2143 mg/mL浓度范围内线性良好（r2=0.9999）,实际样品平均回收率为98.18%~99.88%,相对标准偏差为0.89%~1.12%（n=6）。结论此改进后的方法准确、高效、简便、重现性良好,适用于保健食品铁叶酸片中叶酸含量的测定。     

Vitamin B content of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata Walp). II. Pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin and folic acid

The microbiological estimations of pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin and folic acid were carried out on thirty varieties of cowpeas. Precautions needed to obtain consistent results for each of the vitamins were recorded. Individual values of the vitamins in the samples were recorded and statistical analyses of the results for both the varieties and the three types of cowpeas are discussed. Varietal differences in the vitamin contents were noted.     

Evaluation of alginate-pectin capsules in Cheddar cheese as a food carrier for the delivery of folic acid

Edible gums were evaluated for folic acid encapsulation efficiency as single and mixed polymers. Alginate and pectin yielded the highest encapsulation efficiencies, 216 and 196 μg/100 g, respectively. Upon being combined and the encapsulation conditions optimized, the alginate-pectin (alg-pect) mixture resulted in 360 μg/100 g of folic acid being encapsulated. The alg-pect capsules were tested for their stability in a milk system where pH was adjusted from 6.7 to 4.5 over a 4 h period. Folic acid retention under the test conditions was retained at 360 μg/100 g within the alg-pect capsules indicating their ability to remain intact in a milk system. Stress tolerance of the capsules was tested under simulated cheese press pressures for 4 h until a force of 0.814 N/cm² was detected. Folic acid retention of up to 288 μg/100 g was recorded for the alg-pect capsules. Three stages in Cheddar cheese manufacturing namely; addition of capsules in the milk, incorporation of capsules after milling the curd and injection into the pressed block of raw cheese, were studied for capsules distribution. The former had the most even distribution of capsules while the latter two had poor and irregular distribution. Encapsulated folic acid showed more stability (360 μg/100 g) than the free folic acid (109 μg/100 g) in Cheddar cheese during the 3 months ripening period.     

Effects of irradiation on hamburgers enriched with folic acid

Hamburgers enriched with different amounts of folic acid (0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 mg/100 g) were manufactured. They were then treated with doses of 2–4 kGy of ionizing radiation in order to increase their safety. The effects of these treatments on the colour, texture parameters, and sensory quality of the meat, as well as on the stability of folic acid, were studied in both raw and cooked hamburgers. The presence of folic acid negligibly influenced the quality of these meat products, with irradiation treatments causing most of the loss of sensory quality and so, the treatment with 4 kGy was not adequate. Folic acid levels decreased 20–30% following irradiation with 2 kGy, and no additional decrease was observed at higher doses of radiation. This new functional meat product may help consumers achieve the RDA for this vitamin in a normal diet.     

试剂盒法快速检测婴幼儿乳粉中叶酸含量

目的 建立试剂盒法快速检测婴幼儿乳粉中叶酸的含量。方法 以Tris缓冲液稀释样品, 加入冻干的干酪乳杆菌测试菌球, 采用Costar 3599细胞培养板培养, 使用酶标仪测定结果。并同时检测了28批次婴幼儿乳粉叶酸的含量。结果 本试剂盒方法回收率为95%~105%, 定量检测限为0.050 ng/mL, 日间精密度为0.6%, 日内精密度为0.7%。采用试剂盒方法与GB 5413.16-2010试管法同时检测28批次婴幼儿乳粉中叶酸的含量, 检测结果无显著性差异(P=0.598), 乳粉中叶酸含量的合格率为100%。结论 该方法操作简单, 灵敏度高, 重现性好, 可用于测定婴幼儿乳粉中叶酸的含量。     

Protective effect of ligand-binding proteins against folic acid loss due to photodecomposition

The B group vitamin known as folates is essential for a variety of physiological processes and plays an important role in the prevention of neural tube defects. However, it decomposes when exposed to UV light. In this study, the response of the synthetic form of folates known as folic acid to UV irradiation in the presence of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and α-lactalbumin (α-LA) was investigated using circular dichroism, absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. Photodecomposition of folic acid was delayed in the presence of the proteins, which ranked in the order β-LG > BSA > α-LA in terms of effectiveness. Protein unfolding or decomposition occurred at the same time, due to interaction with folic acid photodecomposition products. The results suggest potential uses of ligand-binding proteins as carriers of water-soluble active compounds for nutraceutical applications.     

Application of ohmic heating/vacuum impregnation treatments and air drying to develop an apple snack enriched in folic acid

The changes of lifestyle and eating habits of consumers have induced a growth in the demand for functional food. The aim of this work was to study the incorporation of folic acid into apple slices by using ohmic heating (OH) and vacuum impregnation (VI) at 30, 40 and 50 °C and air drying at 50, 60 and 70 °C to obtain an apple snack that is rich in folic acid. The kinetic impregnation of folic acid, texture and color were evaluated. The impregnated samples (VI) at 40 °C and vacuum-impregnated samples with ohmic heating (VI/OH) at 50 °C presented a high content of folic acid, whereas the samples air dried at 60 °C presented an important retention of folic acid. The lowest loss of firmness and color was obtained with the VI/OH treatment at 50 °C with drying at 60 °C. Therefore, the VI/OH treatment at 50 °C followed by drying at 60 °C was determined to be the best process for creating dehydrated apple slices that are rich in folic acid.Industrial relevanceThe aim of this research was to study the incorporation of folic acid into dehydrated sliced apples by using vacuum impregnation/ohmic heating (VI/OH) treatments and air drying technologies and evaluating the mechanical and optical properties of the resulting product. Two technologies, vacuum impregnation (VI) and ohmic heating (OH) were performed at 30, 40 or 50 °C with an electric field intensity of 13 V/cm using conventional heating. The results showed that the samples impregnated of apple slices by VI and VI/OH treatments reached the highest content of folic acid. However, the samples that were dried at 60 °C after impregnation by the VI/OH treatment at 50 °C exhibited an increase in folic acid due to the electropermeabilization effect, which induces retention of folic acid and an increase in the folic acid concentration by decreasing the water content. Under the investigated conditions, the VI/OH treatment at 50 °C followed by air drying at 60 °C may be considered the best processing method to obtain an apple snack that is rich in folic acid.     

Prediction of folic acid retention during spray dehydration

An approach for the prediction of nutrient retention during the process of spray dehydration is presented. An Anhydro Compact Spray-Drier with centrifugal atomization was used. A relatively inert microcrystalline cellulose/CMC model system was selected as the feed with the incorporation of folic acid as the test nutrient. Relative humidity and temperature profiles were developed as a function of the vertical distance within the chamber and related to folic acid degradation and moisture content of the drying particles. Response surface methodology and multiple regression analysis were used to develop a predictive equation for final folic acid retention during spray-drying. Although the development of mechanistic models may provide a more general method to the solution of a predictive equation for nutrient retention during spray-drying, it was found that the development of an empirical model would provide an accurate, more practical approach for the purposes of quality control in the food industry.     

富含叶酸血糯米西米保健酸奶的研制

以牛奶、血糯米和西米为原料,并添加叶酸进行营养强化,制备富含叶酸血糯米西米保健酸奶。以酸度、黏度和感官评价为考察指标,以血糯米与西米比例及添加量、蔗糖添加量、接种量、均质时间和发酵时间为影响因素,通过单因素试验和响应面试验优化其工艺条件。结果表明,最佳工艺条件为血糯米与西米(质量比1∶1)添加量15%、蔗糖添加量7%、接种量0.2%、发酵时间7 h。此优化条件下,成品感官评分为89.6分,黏度为5.78 Pa·s,酸度为78.5°T,蛋白质、脂肪、叶酸含量分别为2.85 g/100 g、2.7 g/100 g、424.7μg/100 g,乳酸菌总数为4.2×10⁷ CFU/g。叶酸在酸奶发酵、后熟及冷藏过程中损失率分别为13.5%、1.5%及4.6%,总损失率为19.6%,表明血糯米西米保健酸奶兼具血糯米与西米风味,同时可为孕妇和乳母补充叶酸。