Clinical Trial: Folate Metabolism in Normal Weight and Obese Women of Child-bearing Age

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Pilot Study of Folate Pharmacokinetics in Normal Weight and Obese Women of Child-bearing Age

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a difference in the short term response in serum folate after a single dose of folic acid in normal weight and obese women of childbearing age.

Detailed Summary: Current recommendations established in 1998, specify that all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 micrograms of folate daily from supplements, fortified foods, or both, in addition to consuming food folate from a varied diet. Despite this recommendation, obese women have a lower folate status than women of normal weight which suggests that obesity may have a negative impact on folate metabolism. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine if there are differences in the metabolic response to a single dose of folate between normal weight and obese women of child bearing age. The two groups of women will be given the currently recommended amount of folic acid, 400 micrograms, and blood samples will be taken before the vitamin is given and at various points afterwards to determine serum folate response to the folate dose. Results of this research should help determine if folate requirements are higher for obese than for non-obese women. The long-term goal of this and follow-up studies is to generate data that will contribute to the evidence base used by scientific advisory panels to determine whether dietary folate intake recommendations should be based on body weight.
Sponsor: University of Georgia

Current Primary Outcome: Area under the serum concentration versus time curve (AUC) for folic acid [ Time Frame: 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 10.0 hours post-dose ]

Change from baseline in serum folate response at the indicated time points following oral intake of a 400 ug dose of folic acid will be calculated by subtracting the baseline concentrations from the folate value at each subsequent time point. Individual response-time curves will be generated and area-under-the-curve (AUC) calculated using the trapezoidal rule.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Peak Serum Concentration (Cmax) of Folate [ Time Frame: up to 10 hours ]
    Maximum folate concentration in response to an oral dose of 400 ug folic acid. Values are derived from the individual response curves.
  • Time to peak concentration (tmax) of folate [ Time Frame: up to 10 hours ]
    Time to peak serum concentration of folate following the oral administration of a 400 ug dose of folic acid. Values are derived from the individual response curves.


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Georgia

Dates:
Date Received: December 4, 2012
Date Started: May 2012
Date Completion:
Last Updated: October 20, 2015
Last Verified: October 2015