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Serum cobalamin and folate are often measured in cats and dogs as part of laboratory testing for intestinal disease, small intestinal dysbiosis, or exocrine pancreatic deficiency. We performed an analytical validation of human immunoassays for cobalamin and folate measurement (AIA-900 analyzer, Tosoh Bioscience) and compared results with those obtained using chemiluminescence assays (Immulite 2000 analyzer, Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics). Accuracy, precision, total observable error (TEobs%), and σ values were calculated for the immunoassays. Correlation and agreement were evaluated with Deming regression, Passing–Bablok regression, and Bland–Altman analysis. Cobalamin intra-assay and inter-assay CVs were 1.8–9.3% and 2.6–6.8%, respectively. Folate intra-assay and inter-assay CVs were 1.5–9.1% and 3.4–8.1%, respectively. TEobs (%) were ≤19 and ≤31 for cobalamin and folate, respectively. Sigma values were 3.60–11.50 for cobalamin and 2.90–7.50 for folate. Regression analysis demonstrated very high or high correlations for cobalamin [r = 0.98 (dogs), 0.97 (cats)] and folate [r = 0.88 (dogs), 0.92 (cats)] but Bland–Altman analysis revealed poor agreement for both. The immunoassays had good analytical performance for measuring cobalamin and folate in both species. Results obtained by the 2 analyzers cannot be used interchangeably and should be interpreted using instrument-specific reference intervals. Further studies are required to establish immunoassay-specific reference intervals and to evaluate the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of the analyzer for these analytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term folate (vitamin B9) refers to a group of water-soluble compounds that are nutritionally essential for the support of optimal human health and development. Folates participate in numerous one-carbon transfer reactions, including the methylation of important biomolecules (lipids, amino acids, DNA). A deficiency of folate leads to pathological outcomes including anemia and impairments in reproductive health and fetal development. Due to the linkage of impaired folate status with an increased prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in babies, several jurisdictions required the fortification of the food supply with folic acid, a synthetic and stable form of folate. Data from the postfortification era have provided strong evidence for the reduction of NTDs due to folic acid fortification. However, concern is now growing with respect to the amount of synthetic folic acid within the human food supply. Excess folic acid intake has been linked to a masking of vitamin B12 deficiency, and concerns regarding the promotion of folate-sensitive cancers, including colorectal cancer. New strategies to ensure the supply of optimal folate to at-risk populations may be needed, including the use of biofortification approaches, in order to address recent concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potentiality of heteroprotein complex coacervates as biocarrier for a bioactive was investigated. Vitamin B9 (B9), also known as folic acid, was encapsulated by complex coacervation of two whey proteins (WP), β-lactoglobulin and lactoferrin. The stability and bioavailability of formed B9-WP coacervates was then characterized. Under degradative conditions in vitro (UV light irradiation, and oxidation by H 2 O 2 ), WP coacervates protected the vitamin against chemical degradation. B9-WP coacervates also showed considerable physical stability over time when incorporated in real food matrices. Compared to unencapsulated B9, oral administration of B9-WP coacervates to healthy rats enhanced the plasma level of the vitamin. This improved bioavailability can be ascribed to the improvement in the solubility of B9 throughout the gastro-intestinal tract. We thus demonstrate the efficiency of WP coacervates as biocarrier for the protection and delivery of small bioactive molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Diabetes mellitus is an acutely debilitating ailment affecting a large population of the world. At present, over 415 million people around the world including 7 million people in Pakistan suffering from diabetes. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is inversely related to vitamin B12 and folate, and raised level of homocysteine is implicated in many adverse health conditions. In this study, the potential role of homocysteine in diabetes and the epidemiology of hyperhomocysteinaemia, and vitamin B12 and folate deficiency is reviewed along with the impact of folate and vitamin B12 in regulation of homocysteine level. Deficiency of vitamin B12 and folate is rare in developed countries and the countries which adopted fortification programs, but deficiency of these vitamins is found to be highly prevalent in developing world, particularly in Pakistan. Several studies have found an association of high homocysteine levels and diabetes, but a few studies found contrary results. Hence, further epidemiological studies are recommended for homocysteine involvement in diabetes and vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, so that an urgent action can be taken to control the hyperhomocysteinaemia and consequently the ever increasing burden of disease and specifically diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]