Inadequate Status and Low Awareness of Folate in Switzerland-A Call to Strengthen Public Health Measures to Ensure Sufficient Intakes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Folate plays an essential role in the prevention of neural tube defects, yet little is known about the folate status of women of reproductive age or to what degree the general population is aware of the importance of folate in early-life development. We aimed to determine folate status in women of reproductive age and pregnant women in Switzerland, and to assess folate awareness in the Swiss population.

Methods

In a convenience sample of 171 women of reproductive age and 177 pregnant women throughout Switzerland, we measured red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration. In a second convenience sample (n = 784, men and women) we assessed folate knowledge with an online survey.

Results

RBC folate concentration (median interquartile range) was 442 (366, 56

SUBMITTER: Herter-Aeberli I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7761771 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature