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Folate intake and status of healthy young females in Serbia, a country without folic acid food fortification
Author(s) -
Ivankovic Marija Djekic,
Gurinovic Mirjana,
Savikin Katarina,
Nikolic Marina,
Glibetic Marija
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.lb289
Subject(s) - fortification , folic acid , medicine , food fortification , christian ministry , dietary reference intake , fortified food , physiology , pregnancy , cross sectional study , environmental health , food science , biology , nutrient , ecology , philosophy , genetics , theology , pathology
Objective A single‐day cross‐sectional study was performed to assess folate intake and status of healthy young females in Serbia, a country without folic acid food fortification. Method Dietary intake of folate was assessed on the sample of 420 women (aged 18 to 30) using validated semi quantitative food frequency and 24 hr recall questionnaires. Folate intake was calculated using DietAsses nutritional software and Serbian Food Composition Data Base. On 10% of participants’ folate status was determined by red blood cell (RBC) and serum folate concentrations. Results Mean daily intake of folate was more than 400 μg in 9. 77% of participants and only 0.71% of all participants were taking folic acid supplements. In a subpopulation of 40 female subjects, calculated mean daily intake of folate was 311.84 ± 81.20 μg DFE (dietary folate equivalents). The results of serum and RBC folate indicated that 32.5% of females in Serbia were folate deficiency and only 20% reached RBC folate concentrations needed to prevent fetal neural tube defect (>;400 ng/mL). Conclusion Folate was below the daily recommended intake (400 μg/day) in more than 90% of participants, and prevalence of folate deficiency was high among females of reproductive age. Our data demonstrates that there is a need for promotion of folic acid supplementation among young women in Serbia. Source of research support: Ministry of Science, Serbia III grant 41030