| The purpose of this study was to measure the folate in the feces of human infants and piglets. The folate content of fecal solids of infants was 93.2 ± 92.8 nmol/d, representing 50% of their estimated intake. Fecal folate was largely present as short-chain folate (66 ± 21.3%). The predominant form of folate was 5-methylTHF, 52.5 ± 30.1% of which was monoglutamated, important for folate transport across the large intestine. In the piglet, the folate content of feces was 301.3 ± 145.7 nmol/d, representing 36% of their intake. Again, piglet fecal folate was largely present as short-chain folate (68.1 ± 12.6%) with the predominant species being 5-methylTHF, 29.3 ± 33.2% of which was monoglutamated. Collectively, the data suggest that the quantity and form of folate in the large intestine of human infants and piglets is sufficiently large to potentially impact the folate status of the host. |
