Abstract
Women of childbearing age are advised to consume folic acid–containing supplements.
Whether this remains necessary after folic acid fortification of the food supply in
North America has yet to be determined. The objectives of this study were to assess
folate intakes and the contribution of folic acid to the diets of women of childbearing
age in the post–folic acid fortification era. Using a cross-sectional study design,
fasting blood samples were obtained from 95 women (aged 18 to 25 years), and the samples
were analyzed for serum and red blood cell folate, as well for total homocysteine.
Dietary and supplemental folate intakes were assessed. The biochemical evidence showed
that no women were folate deficient, but only 14% reached red blood cell folate concentrations
associated with significant reductions in neural tube defect risk. Mean dietary intake
of food folic acid was 96±64 μg/day, supplemental folic acid was 94±189 μg/day, natural
folate was 314±134 μg/day, and the total intake, as dietary folate equivalents, was
646±368 μg dietary folate equivalents/day. Therefore, intakes of folic acid from fortified
foods are within the level originally predicted for the fortification efforts; however,
only 17% of participants met the special recommendation for women capable of becoming
pregnant (400 μg folic acid daily from supplements, fortified foods, or both in addition
to consuming food folate from a varied diet). These data suggest that women of childbearing
age are achieving positive folate status in the postfortification era, but it may
not be sufficient to achieve red blood cell folate concentrations associated with
a significant reduction in neural tube defect risk. Even with food fortification,
women of childbearing age should be advised to take a folic acid–containing supplement
on a daily basis.
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Biography
A. Shuaibi is a post-doctoral fellow, Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Biography
J. D. House and G. P. Sevenhuysen are professors, Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 13,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
