Folate status in the US population 20 y after the introduction of folic acid fortification.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Enriched cereal-grain products have been fortified in the United States for >20 y to improve folate status in women of reproductive age and reduce the risk of folic acid-responsive neural tube birth defects (NTDs).

Objectives

Our objectives were to assess postfortification changes in folate status in the overall US population and in women aged 12-49 y and to characterize recent folate status by demographic group and use of folic acid-containing supplements.

Methods

We examined cross-sectional serum and RBC folate data from the NHANES 1999-2016.

Results

Serum folate geometric means increased from 2007-2010 to 2011-2016 in persons aged ≥1 y (38.7 compared with 40.6 nmol/L) and in women (35.3 compared with 37.0 nmol/L), whereas RBC folate showed no sign

SUBMITTER: Pfeiffer CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6821545 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature