Prevalence and factors associated with folate deficiency among Filipino women of child-bearing age

@#Introduction: Folate deficiency is associated with many complications of pregnancy. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with deficiency in red blood cell (RBC) folate among Filipino women of child-bearing age in the Province of Batangas, Philippines. Methods: A total of 184 Filipino women aged 15 to 49 years were interviewed on their socio-economic and demographic profiles. Mean energy and folate intakes were obtained using food recalls over a three-month period. RBC folate was used to measure long-term folate status and analysed through immuno-assay method. Results: About two in ten women were folate deficient based on the normal cut-off points (<400 ng/mL) preventive of neural tube defect-affected pregnancies. Respondents have very low intake of folate at 81 and 239 micrograms dietary folate equivalent (µg DFE) from dietary sources and with folic acid supplementation, respectively. Vegetable gardening and livestock raising (p<0.10) and use of folic-acid containing supplements showed significant correlations with folate status (p<0.05). Further, regression analysis showed that among the significant factors, the non-usage of folic acid-containing supplements showed increased likelihood of RBC folate deficiency by six times compared to users (OR=6.391, p<0.10). Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest a high prevalence of folate deficiency among Filipino women. Folate is an essential nutrient for healthy pregnancy. It is important that women, capable of bearing a child must assure adequate folate intake from foods and folic-acid containing supplements. The study recommends a more aggressive campaign on the importance of folate among women of child-bearing age.

Folate status in the red blood cell and related geographical differences among 810 with 65- to 74- year-old population of two counties in Southern and Northern China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To assess the red blood cell (RBC) folate status among Chinese elderly population and its geographical differences between Southem and Northern regions,and to evaluate the correlation between RBC and plasma folate.Methods This study was conducted in two counties of Jiangsu and Hebei provinces of China.A total of 810 individuals aged 65-74 years were recruited.RBC folate in blood samples was measured by microbiological assay.Data on RBC folate was log-transformed before analysis.Means of RBC folate concentration were compared by t-test,and the prevalence rates of RBC folate deficiency for different characteristics were compared by x2 test.Results The geometric mean ofRBC folate concentration was 1083.3 nmol/L(95％CI:1034.11134.8) among the Southerners and 489.1 nmol/L (95％CI:466.7-512.6) among the Northerners,with the former being 2.2 times of the latter (t=23.684,P＜0.001 ).The prevalence rates of RBC folate deficiency were 1.0％ in the South and 28.9％ in the North (x2=124.06,P＜0.001).The concentrations of RBC folate were positively correlated with plasma folate (r=0.49,P＜0.001 ).After adjustment for region,sex,age,BMI,education,exposure to tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption,the correlation remained significant (r=0.38,P＜0.001 ).Conclusion In 810 Chinese elderly population aged 65-74 from the two counties,Southerners had a higher RBC folate concentration and a lower deficiency prevalence than those in the Northerners.The RBC folate concentration was positively associated with plasma folate.

Consumo alimentar e concentrações intra-eritrocitárias de folato em mulheres do Recife, Nordeste do Brasil / Folate food intake and red blood cell folate concentrations in women from Recife, Northeast of Brazil

Foi avaliado o consumo e concentrações intra-eritrocitárias de folato em mulheres do Recife, Nordeste, Brasil, mediante estudo de corte transversal, envolvendo 360 mulheres, de 15 a 45 anos, aleatoriamente rastreadas, por amostragem em dupla etapa, de 9 Unidades Públicas de Saúde, em 2007-2008. O consumo de folato foi avaliado pelo Questionário de Freqüência Alimentar Quantitativo e comparado com os valores da Dietary Reference Intakes-DRI’s. O status orgânico de folato foi avaliado pelas concentrações intra-eritrocitárias. A media geométrica do consumo diário de folato foi 627,1[IC95%600,4-655,0] µg/dia. A freqüência de mulheres com risco de ingestão de folato abaixo da recomendação foi 16,0% para adolescentes (<330µg/dia) e 6,3% para adultas jovens (<320µg/dia). A prevalência de mulheres cujo consumo excedeu o limite máximo tolerável de ingestão foi de 48,0% (>800µg/dia) e 13,7% (>1000µg/dia) para adolescentes e adultas, respectivamente. A média das concentrações de folato eritrocitário foi de 1797,8 ± 357,1 nmol/L. O consumo de alimentos-fonte de folato não mostrou correlação com as concentrações eritrocitárias (r= 0,058 e p= 0,274). Maiores concentrações de folato eritrocitário foram observadas em mulheres adultas jovens (p= 0,004) e entre aquelas com renda até dois salários mínimos (p= 0,042). Nas mulheres do Recife, tanto o consumo de alimentos-fonte de folato como as concentrações eritrocitárias de folato elevaram-se em patamares superiores às recomendações internacionais.

Folate food intake and red blood cell folate concentrations were assess in women from Recife, Northeast Brazil. Following a two stages sampling procedure, a cross-sectional study was carried out involving 360 women, between 15-45y, attending in nine Health Care Public Unit in 2007-2008. Folate intake was evaluated by a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire, and compared with the values of the Dietary Reference Intakes- DRI’s. Folate status was evaluated by red blood cell folate concentrations. Geometric mean of folate intake was 627.1[IC95%600.4-655.0] µg/day. The frequency of women at risk for folate intake below the recommendation was 16.0% for adolescents (<330µg/ day) and 6.3% for young adult (<320µg/ day). The prevalence of women whose consumption exceeds the maximum tolerable intake was 48.0% (> 800µg/ day) and 13.7% (> 1000µg/ day) for adolescents and adults, respectively. The mean of red blood cell folate concentrations was 1797.8 ± 357.1nmol/L. Folate rich-food intake did not show any correlation with red blood cell folate concentrations (r= 0.058 and p= 0.274). Higher red blood cell folate concentrations were observed in adult young women (p=0.004) and among those with income up to two minimum wages (p=0.042). Folate rich-food intake as well as red blood cell folate concentrations among women from Recife were above the international recommendations.