Abstract
Despite the Introduction of Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification, Australian Women of Childbearing Age may not obtain the Estimated Average Requirements for Folate
FASEB Journal, Vol.30(1, Supplement 1171.9)
Experimental Biology (EB) Conference, 2016 (San Diego, United States, 02-Apr-2016 - 06-Apr-2016)
2016
Abstract
Background Despite the importance of folate in reducing the risk of Neural Tube Defects (NTD's) and the widespread introduction of mandatory folic acid fortification, there remains a lack of data on the sources where child bearing age women are obtaining their folate requirements. Objective We aimed to assess the folate status and dietary intake of folate in a sample of Australian women of childbearing age and to estimate the major contributors of folate intake. Methods Across-sec ional study of forty-five (N=45) women (aged 18-47) conducted in Brisbane, Australia. Dietary intake of folate, assessed as Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE's) was measured via a validated food frequency questionnaire. Serum and red blood cell folate of participants were measured via commercial automated competitive binding assay. Results No participants were deficient in either serum or red blood cell folate, however, over one third of the group (n=16) did not consume an adequate intake of folate accordin to the Estimated Average requirements (EAR). Meeting the EAR of dietary intake for folate was significantly associated with increased odds of having higher red blood cell folate status (OR=3.83;p=<0.05). Proportionally, folic acid fortified bread contributed 15.4% of total dietary folate intake. Conclusions Mandatoryfolic acid fortification provided a substantial proportion of the dietaryfolate intake in this sample. However, despite the mandatory fortification of bread making flour with folic acid a con iderable proportion (36%) did not meet the estimated average requirement of dietary folate. Future studies should include females of childbearing age belonging to vulnerable populations, to elucidate the adequacy of folate intake in these groups and assess the impact of low intakes in these populations on blood folate status
Details
- Title
- Despite the Introduction of Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification, Australian Women of Childbearing Age may not obtain the Estimated Average Requirements for Folate
- Authors
- David Borradale (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyMichael G Kimlin (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- FASEB Journal, Vol.30(1, Supplement 1171.9)
- Conference details
- Experimental Biology (EB) Conference, 2016 (San Diego, United States, 02-Apr-2016 - 06-Apr-2016)
- Publisher
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
- ISSN
- 0892-6638
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449866602621
- Output Type
- Abstract
Metrics
4 File views/ downloads
586 Record Views