[Folic acid deficiency and increased concentrations of formate in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with epidemic optical neuropathy]. Rev Cubana Med Trop 2000;52(1):21-3
Date
12/07/2000Pubmed ID
11107889Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0033759588 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 11 CitationsAbstract
We studied 62 patients aged 48 years as an average and diagnosed with bilateral optical neuropathy during an epidemics in Pinar del Río province. Of these patients, 42 showed the optical form whereas 20 had the mixed form of optical neuropathy. We researched into the levels of formate and folate in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples and we found a marked deficiency of folates in more than 50% of samples and high formate concentration levels in almost 25% of samples. We concluded that nutritional shortages that lead to a reduction of folates, and the intake of small amounts of methanol in alcoholic drinks could lead to lacking energetic states which would facilitate that the optical nerve be affected and the epidemic optical neuropathy appear.
Author List
Eells JT, González-Quevedo A, Santiesteban Freixas R, McMartin KE, Sadun AAAuthor
Janis Eells PhD Professor in the Biomedical Sciences department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Alcohol DrinkingDisease Outbreaks
Female
Folic Acid
Folic Acid Deficiency
Formates
Humans
Male
Methanol
Middle Aged
Optic Nerve Diseases
Risk Factors
Solvents
