Question

⦁   Folate and B12 have an important role in hematology (“blood-related” processes) such that a deficiency of either of these vitamins can result in anemia. Discuss the interrelationship between these vitamins and why a deficiency of either of them results in megaloblastic anemia. Your answer will likely need to talk to some extent about the methyl trap hypothesis. Make sure to relate any metabolic description of folate and B12 to the basis for anemia resulting from a deficiency.

Answer 1

According to methyl trap hypothesis- Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to low levels of methionine synthetase. Low level of methionine synthetase leads to the deficiency of folate by trapping the 5-methyl derivative instead.

Megaloblastic anemia occurs due to the Deficiency of folate or Vitamin B12. This disease occur due to the inhibition of DNA synthesis or impairment of DNA synthesis.

Folate have various function such as - purine synthesis, synthesis of thymidylate and methionine, catabolism of histidine etc.

Vitamin B12 also leads to the synthesis of thymidylate.

The deficiency of folate and cobalamine leads to the anemia or megaloblastic anemia due to impairment of DNA synthesis.

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