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Prevalence of anemia is lower in post‐folic acid fortification period compared to pre‐fortification period
Author(s) -
Ganji Vijay,
Kafai Mohammad R
Publication year - 2008
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.22.1_supplement.678.11
Subject(s) - macrocytosis , fortification , medicine , anemia , hemoglobin , hematocrit , folic acid , food fortification , physiology , gastroenterology , food science , biology
It is not known whether improved folate status from folic acid fortification has had any impact on the prevalence of anemia in the US. Trends in indices and prevalence of anemia and macrocytosis with a focus on comparing pre‐fortification data (1988–1994) with post‐fortification data (1999–2004) were investigated (n=26596). In men, from 1988–1994 to 2003–2004, hemoglobin and hematocrit values slightly but significantly improved from 15.1 to 15.5 g/dL (2.6%) (P<.0001) and from 44.5 to 45.7% (2.6%) (P<.0001), respectively. In women, the improvement was from 13.3 to 13.7 g/dL in hemoglobin (3%) (P<.0001) and from 39.5 to 40.4% in hematocrit (2.3%) (P<.0001). There was a modest but significant increase in MCV from 1998–1994 to 2003–2004 in men (P=0.0001). MCV increased significantly in both older (>60 years) men (P=.0105) and women (P=.0141). In women but not in men, prevalence of anemia was significantly lower in 1999–2004 (10.4%) relative to 1988–1994 (7.5%, a 27.9% reduction, P=.0005). In general, prevalence of macrocytosis did not change significantly from 1988–1994 to 2003–2004. In US women, folic acid fortification may be indirectly responsible for the reduction of prevalence of anemia from 1988–1994 to 1999–2004. In the post‐fortification period, increased MCV in non‐target populations such as men and older persons may suggest an adverse effect of folic acid fortification.