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Dietary intakes of zinc and folate in preschoolers from Ontario: The role of food fortification
Author(s) -
HennessyPriest Kathleen,
Stroud Jill,
Keller Heather,
Rysdale Lee,
Beyers Joanne,
Simpson Janis Randall
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1049-b
Subject(s) - fortification , fortified food , food fortification , folic acid , dietary reference intake , zinc , medicine , environmental health , food science , micronutrient , nutrient , zoology , population , chemistry , biology , organic chemistry , pathology
This study aimed to define the role and quantify the impact of zinc and folic acid fortified food on total intake of these two nutrients by Canadian preschoolers. Three‐day food records for 254 children (3–5 years) from the NutriSTEP™ validation project were used to estimate usual zinc and folate intakes. Comparisons were made to the Dietary Reference Intakes taking into account and excluding fortified foods. With the contribution from zinc fortified foods, 25% of the 128 three year olds (n=32) had zinc intakes (range 7.01–7.6 mg/day) marginally above the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) (7 mg/day). However, zinc fortified foods had minimal impact upon total zinc intake, contributing just 2.3%. In contrast, folic acid consumption from fortified foods made a significant contribution (36%) to total folate intake. Excluding folic acid from fortified foods, the prevalence of folate intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement in 3, 4 and 5 year olds, respectively, was 1, 33 and 38%. This demonstrates the important role of folic acid fortified foods in preventing folate inadequacy in this group. The prevalence of folic acid intakes (range 53–147 μg/day) above the UL (300–400 μg/day) was zero. Recently proposed Canadian food fortification policy changes seem appropriate for this group of preschoolers. Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research