Cytogenetic damage induced by folate deficiency in mice is enhanced by caffeine.

Folate deficiency in Swiss mice increased the incidence of micronuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes, indicating increased chromosomal damage in nucleated erythrocyte precursors. Caffeine enhanced the incidence of micronuclei in blood and bone marrow by up to 5-fold in folate-deficient mice at doses that did not significantly alter the micronucleus frequency in the presence of adequate dietary folate. The lower dose of caffeine used in this study (75 mg/kg) approaches doses received by humans who consume large amounts of caffeinated beverages. Since folate deficiency and caffeine consumption are highly prevalent in the human population, the potential for a similar interaction in man should be evaluated. IMAGES:

瑞士小鼠出现叶酸缺乏（folate deficiency）后，其外周血红细胞（peripheral blood erythrocytes）的微核（micronuclei）发生率升高，提示有核红细胞前体细胞（nucleated erythrocyte precursors）的染色体损伤程度加剧。咖啡因可在叶酸缺乏小鼠中，使血液及骨髓（bone marrow）的微核发生率最高提升5倍；而在膳食叶酸充足的条件下，相同剂量的咖啡因并不会显著改变微核发生频率。本研究采用的较低咖啡因剂量（75 mg/kg），与大量摄入含咖啡因饮品（caffeinated beverages）的人体所摄入的咖啡因剂量相当。鉴于人群中叶酸缺乏与咖啡因摄入的现象均极为普遍，因此有必要评估人类群体中是否存在类似的交互效应。图像：