Folate, folic acid, has a role in mitigating inflammatory reactions in the human body. This study aimed to evaluate the association of serum folate levels with lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Of the 8149 participants of the 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 311 subjects (192 males and 119 females) having COPD defined by the lower fifth percentile of the reference population were selected. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between serum folate level and lung function measurements. The association between the serum folate level and lung function in patients with COPD was evaluated using multivariable linear regression analysis after adjustment for age, sex, height, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, total calorie intake, residence, smoking status and smoking pack-years, education, and household income. The serum folate level showed a positive correlation with the predicted percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%). In males, a trend for a positive correlation with serum folate level was observed in predicted FEV1%, FEV1 value, predicted percentage of forced vital capacity (FVC%), FVC value, and peak expiratory flow (PEF). No significant correlation between the serum folate level and lung function in females was observed. In the multivariable linear regression model, the serum folate level was associated with an increase in predicted FEV1%, FEV1 value, predicted FVC%, FVC value, and PEF; however, the significance was only observed in males, especially among current smokers. High serum folate level was positively associated with lung function measurements in male COPD patients who were current smokers. Further longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Keywords: COPD; KNHANES; folate; lung function; spirometry.