2. What is homocysteine?

11. Plasma homocystine concentration is decreased by dietary intervetion.

12. High plasma homocystine conc. Is reported to be a risk factor for vascular diseases. In national public health institute Finland they investigated the extend to which serum folate and plasma homocystine respond to high intake of natural folate from food. The study included a baseline period and 2 to 5 weeks diet periods of low & high folate diet.

13. The low folate diet contained 1 serving of both vegetables & fruits/day, while during the high folate diet the subject ate at least 7 serving of vegetables, berries and citrus fruits/day. Serum & Erytrocyte (RBC) folate, serum vitB12 & plasma homocystine conc. Were measured at the baseline & at the end of the diet period .

14. The mean conc. of serum and (RBC) folate were 11.0(sd 3-0) nmol/l &412(sd 120)nmol/l. At the end of the low folate diet and 78% & 14% higher in response to high folate diet. The serum conc. of vitb12 remain unchanged during the intervention The mean plasma homocystine conc. was 8.0µmol/l, at the end of the low folate diet and decreases by 13% in response to high folate diet. In conclusion a diet high in berries citrus fruits andvegetables effectively increases serum & RBC folate and decreases plasma homocystine

15. RICH SOURCES OF FOLIC ACID IN µg JOWAR : 20.0 WHEAT WHOLE : 36.6 BENGAL GRAM WHOLE : 186 BEGALGRAM dhal : 147.5 BEGALGRAM rosted : 139 BLACK GRAM,dhal : 132 COW PEA : 133