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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207670
Title: Folate and Vitamin B12 Transport Systems in the Developing Infant

Author
item Rosenberg, Irwin
item Selhub, Jacob

Submitted to: Journal of Pediatrics
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2006
Publication Date: 11/1/2006
Citation: Rosenberg, I., Selhub, J. 2006. Folate and Vitamin B12 Transport Systems in the Developing Infant. Journal of Pediatrics. 149(5):S62-S63.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: B vitamin transport systems in infants are not as well studied as those for amino acids and glucose. For most B vitamins, a 2-step process allows for digestion of coenzyme forms of the vitamins in food, followed by specific transport systems for the free vitamin in the intestine. Folate and vitamin B12 have specific binding proteins, which carry the vitamins in human milk and blood, and other unique binding proteins, which convey the vitamins across the placenta, intestine, and blood-brain barrier. The permeable infant intestine permits the efficient intact transfer of protein-bound folate and vitamin B12 from intestinal lumen to bloodstream. As the intestine matures, specific carriers and receptors facilitate uptake and transport of these vitamins.