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Dietary folate intakes and effects of folic acid supplementation on folate concentrations among Japanese pregnant women
Author(s) -
Kondo Atsuo,
Asada Yoshimasa,
Shibata Kanemitsu,
Kihira Masamichi,
Ninomiya Keiu,
Suzuki Masatoshi,
Oguchi Hidenori,
Hayashi Yoshihiko,
Narita Osamu,
Watanabe Junichiro,
Shimosuka Yoichi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2010.01358.x
Subject(s) - folic acid , medicine , dietary reference intake , pregnancy , folic acid supplementation , reference daily intake , neural tube defect , fortified food , food science , physiology , vitamin , zoology , endocrinology , nutrient , biology , fetus , environmental health , ecology , genetics
Aim: To quantify the consumed amount of dietary folate and to evaluate effects of folic acid and balanced diets on serum folate concentrations. Material & Methods: Food records collected from 641 pregnant women were assessed to quantify the consumed amount of dietary folate for a 6‐year period from 2003 to 2008. Changes in serum folate concentrations were evaluated among 80 pregnant women who either took folic acid tablets or consumed balanced diets in 2008. Results: Though the dietary folate intake averaged 331 µg daily, 200 women in the 1st trimester consumed the least amount of dietary folate, 294 µg daily. It was observed that 42% of the 200 women either consumed at least 440 µg of dietary folate daily or took 400 µg folic acid supplements daily, but that 58% of them neither consumed dietary folate of 440 µg nor took folic acid supplements. Intakes of 400 µg folic acid supplements for 5 weeks resulted in a significant increase in serum folate concentrations but the consumption of balanced diets had no effect on increasing folate concentrations. Conclusions: The average intake of dietary folate did not fulfill the Recommended Dietary Allowance of 440 µg. Serum folate concentration significantly increased only among pregnant women who took folic acid supplements. Recommendations to consume balanced diets do not seem effective to decrease the incidence of neural tube defects.