Atopy, asthma, and lung function in relation to folate and vitamin B(12) in adults

B H Thuesen; L L N Husemoen; L Ovesen; Torben Jørgensen; M Fenger; G Gilderson; A Linneberg

doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02378.x

Atopy, asthma, and lung function in relation to folate and vitamin B(12) in adults

B H Thuesen, L L N Husemoen, L Ovesen, Torben Jørgensen, M Fenger, G Gilderson, A Linneberg

Department of Public Health

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Recent studies suggested low serum folate and impaired folate metabolism as potential risk factors for development of asthma and atopic disease, but the results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the relations of markers of folate and vitamin B₁₂ (B₁₂) deficiency with different phenotypes of asthma and atopy. Methods: A random sample of 6784 persons from a general population aged 30-60 years participated in a health examination in 1999-2001, and 4516 (66.6%) of those also participated in a follow-up examination 5 years later. The examinations included spirometry, measurements of serum folate and B ₁₂, specific IgE to inhalant allergens, total IgE, and genotyping of the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism - a genetic marker of impaired folate metabolism. Information about dietary intake of folate and B₁₂, asthma diagnosis, and airway symptoms was obtained by questionnaires. Results: Low serum folate levels and the TT genotype of the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism were associated with increased prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma [odds ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.79 and OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.12-2.06, respectively] and attacks of shortness of breath (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.79 and OR 1.47; 95% CI: 1.14-1.91, respectively). We found no significant associations with lung function or atopic outcomes. Serum levels of B₁₂ and dietary intake of folate and B₁₂ were not associated with asthma or atopy. Conclusions: We found that two objective markers of folate deficiency were associated with self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma and attacks of shortness of breath, but not with lung function or atopy.

Original language	English
Journal	Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume	65
Issue number	11
Pages (from-to)	1446-54
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0105-4538
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02378.x
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2010

Keywords

Adult
Asthma
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Folic Acid
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Genotype
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Immediate
Male
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
Middle Aged
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Respiratory Function Tests
Vitamin B 12

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10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02378.x

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@article{8c3cd0783e6947ddb6aa0a210bdef3ce,

title = "Atopy, asthma, and lung function in relation to folate and vitamin B(12) in adults",

abstract = "Background: Recent studies suggested low serum folate and impaired folate metabolism as potential risk factors for development of asthma and atopic disease, but the results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the relations of markers of folate and vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency with different phenotypes of asthma and atopy. Methods: A random sample of 6784 persons from a general population aged 30-60 years participated in a health examination in 1999-2001, and 4516 (66.6%) of those also participated in a follow-up examination 5 years later. The examinations included spirometry, measurements of serum folate and B 12, specific IgE to inhalant allergens, total IgE, and genotyping of the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism - a genetic marker of impaired folate metabolism. Information about dietary intake of folate and B12, asthma diagnosis, and airway symptoms was obtained by questionnaires. Results: Low serum folate levels and the TT genotype of the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism were associated with increased prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma [odds ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.79 and OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.12-2.06, respectively] and attacks of shortness of breath (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.79 and OR 1.47; 95% CI: 1.14-1.91, respectively). We found no significant associations with lung function or atopic outcomes. Serum levels of B12 and dietary intake of folate and B12 were not associated with asthma or atopy. Conclusions: We found that two objective markers of folate deficiency were associated with self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma and attacks of shortness of breath, but not with lung function or atopy.",

keywords = "Adult, Asthma, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Folic Acid, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genotype, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Immediate, Male, Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2), Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Respiratory Function Tests, Vitamin B 12",

author = "Thuesen, {B H} and Husemoen, {L L N} and L Ovesen and Torben J{\o}rgensen and M Fenger and G Gilderson and A Linneberg",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.",

year = "2010",

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doi = "10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02378.x",

language = "English",

volume = "65",

pages = "1446--54",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Atopy, asthma, and lung function in relation to folate and vitamin B(12) in adults

AU - Thuesen, B H

AU - Husemoen, L L N

AU - Ovesen, L

AU - Jørgensen, Torben

AU - Fenger, M

AU - Gilderson, G

AU - Linneberg, A

PY - 2010/11/1

Y1 - 2010/11/1

N2 - Background: Recent studies suggested low serum folate and impaired folate metabolism as potential risk factors for development of asthma and atopic disease, but the results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the relations of markers of folate and vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency with different phenotypes of asthma and atopy. Methods: A random sample of 6784 persons from a general population aged 30-60 years participated in a health examination in 1999-2001, and 4516 (66.6%) of those also participated in a follow-up examination 5 years later. The examinations included spirometry, measurements of serum folate and B 12, specific IgE to inhalant allergens, total IgE, and genotyping of the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism - a genetic marker of impaired folate metabolism. Information about dietary intake of folate and B12, asthma diagnosis, and airway symptoms was obtained by questionnaires. Results: Low serum folate levels and the TT genotype of the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism were associated with increased prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma [odds ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.79 and OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.12-2.06, respectively] and attacks of shortness of breath (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.79 and OR 1.47; 95% CI: 1.14-1.91, respectively). We found no significant associations with lung function or atopic outcomes. Serum levels of B12 and dietary intake of folate and B12 were not associated with asthma or atopy. Conclusions: We found that two objective markers of folate deficiency were associated with self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma and attacks of shortness of breath, but not with lung function or atopy.

AB - Background: Recent studies suggested low serum folate and impaired folate metabolism as potential risk factors for development of asthma and atopic disease, but the results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the relations of markers of folate and vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency with different phenotypes of asthma and atopy. Methods: A random sample of 6784 persons from a general population aged 30-60 years participated in a health examination in 1999-2001, and 4516 (66.6%) of those also participated in a follow-up examination 5 years later. The examinations included spirometry, measurements of serum folate and B 12, specific IgE to inhalant allergens, total IgE, and genotyping of the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism - a genetic marker of impaired folate metabolism. Information about dietary intake of folate and B12, asthma diagnosis, and airway symptoms was obtained by questionnaires. Results: Low serum folate levels and the TT genotype of the MTHFR-C677T polymorphism were associated with increased prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma [odds ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.79 and OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.12-2.06, respectively] and attacks of shortness of breath (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.79 and OR 1.47; 95% CI: 1.14-1.91, respectively). We found no significant associations with lung function or atopic outcomes. Serum levels of B12 and dietary intake of folate and B12 were not associated with asthma or atopy. Conclusions: We found that two objective markers of folate deficiency were associated with self-reported doctor-diagnosed asthma and attacks of shortness of breath, but not with lung function or atopy.

KW - Adult

KW - Asthma

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Diet

KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

KW - Female

KW - Folic Acid

KW - Genetic Predisposition to Disease

KW - Genotype

KW - Humans

KW - Hypersensitivity, Immediate

KW - Male

KW - Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

KW - Respiratory Function Tests

KW - Vitamin B 12

U2 - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02378.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2010.02378.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20456312

SN - 0105-4538

VL - 65

SP - 1446

EP - 1454

JO - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

JF - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

IS - 11

ER -

Atopy, asthma, and lung function in relation to folate and vitamin B(12) in adults

Abstract

Keywords

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