Possible Interaction: Nitrous Oxide and Folate

“Lastly, preoperative administration of folate and B vitamins can inhibit the nitrous oxide –induced increase in homocysteine.”

“This study showed that, in addition to nitrous oxide , a deficiency of folate or B vitamins increased the incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia 4-fold.”

“Avoidance of nitrous oxide in specific circumstances, such as pre-existing pneumocephalus, during acute venous air embolism, and in patients with disorders of folate metabolism, is warranted.”

“ Nitrous oxide inactivates vitamin B12 with detrimental consequences for folate and methionine metabolism, detectable by an increase in total plasma homocysteine.”

“Many receive nitrous oxide , which impairs methionine synthase, thus inhibiting folate synthesis and increasing postoperative homocysteine levels.”

“Although nitrous oxide interferes with vitamin B12, folate metabolism, and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and prevents the use of high inspired oxygen concentrations, the consequences of these effects are unclear.”

“They may also be at increased risk of complications after surgery because nitrous oxide interferes with folate metabolism.”

“Urinary excretion of folate and homocysteine increased during and after nitrous oxide exposure (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.002, respectively) and correlated with exposure time (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.005, respectively).”

“Exposure to 70% nitrous oxide appeared to cause abnormal metabolism of folate when exposure was greater than 90 min.”

“Prolonged experiments with U937 cells revealed that the disturbance of folate metabolism aggravated up to 48 h of nitrous oxide exposure.”

“There is incontrovertible evidence that nitrous oxide adversely effects vitamin B,2 and folate metabolism.”