On the other hand, folic acid deficiency has been associated with an increased expression of inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin (IL)-β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the mouse monocyte cell line RAW264.7 (18); this is consistent with the beneficial role of folic acid in preventing inflammatory responses (19). This evidence concerns the gene TNF and folate deficiency.