Folic acid deficiency declined substantially after introduction of the mandatory fortification programme in Queensland, Australia: a secondary health data analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the prevalence of folic acid deficiency in Queensland-wide data of routine laboratory measurements, especially in high-risk sub-populations.

Design

Secondary health data analysis.

Setting

Analysis of routine folic acid tests conducted by Pathology Queensland (AUSLAB).

Participants

Female and male persons aged 0-117 years with routine folic acid testing between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2015. If repeat tests on the same person were conducted, only the initial test was analysed (n 291 908).

Results

Overall the prevalence of folic acid deficiency declined from 7·5 % before (2004-2008) to 1·1 % after mandatory folic acid fortification (2010-2015; P < 0·001) reflecting a relative reduction of 85 %. Levels of erythrocyte folate in

SUBMITTER: Slagman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10260513 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature