Dataset Information

Dietary Intake of Folate and Assessment of the Folate Deficiency Prevalence in Slovenia Using Serum Biomarkers.

ABSTRACT: Folate deficiency is associated with various health issues, including anemia, cardiovascular disease, and birth defects. Low folate intake and suboptimal folate status were found in several countries; however, this topic has not yet been investigated in Slovenia. Dietary folate intake and serum folate status were investigated through the nationally representative food consumption study SI.Menu/Nutrihealth. Folate intake was estimated using a sample of N = 1248 subjects aged 10-74 years, stratified in three age groups (adolescents, adults, elderly population), through two 24 h-dietary recalls and food propensity questionnaire. Data on serum folate and homocysteine was available for 280 participants. Very low folate intake (<300 µg/day) was observed in 59% of adolescents, 58% of adults and 68% of elderlies, and only about 12% achieved the WHO recommended level of 400 µg/day. Major dietary contributors were vegetables and fruit, and cereal products. Living environment, education, employment status and BMI were linked with low folate intake in adults; BMI, and sex in adolescents; and sex in elderlies. Considering low serum folate (<7 nmol/L) and high serum homocysteine (>15 nmol/L), folate deficiency was found in 7.6 and 10.5% in adults and elderlies, respectively. Additional public health strategies should be employed to promote the consumption of folate-rich foods. With current folate intakes, supplementation with folic acid is relevant especially in specific vulnerable populations, particularly in women planning and during pregnancy.

SUBMITTER: Pravst I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8620305 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Dietary Intake of Folate and Assessment of the Folate Deficiency Prevalence in Slovenia Using Serum Biomarkers.

Pravst Igor I Lavriša Živa Ž Hribar Maša M Hristov Hristo H Kvarantan Naska N Seljak Barbara Koroušić BK Gregorič Matej M Blaznik Urška U Gregorič Nadan N Zaletel Katja K Oblak Adrijana A Osredkar Joško J Žmitek Katja K Kušar Anita A

Nutrients 20211028 11

Folate deficiency is associated with various health issues, including anemia, cardiovascular disease, and birth defects. Low folate intake and suboptimal folate status were found in several countries; however, this topic has not yet been investigated in Slovenia. Dietary folate intake and serum folate status were investigated through the nationally representative food consumption study SI.Menu/Nutrihealth. Folate intake was estimated using a sample of <i>N</i> = 1248 subjects aged 10-74 years, s ...[more]

PMID: 34836112

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Project description:BackgroundFolate and cobalamin (vitamin B-12) are essential for growth and development. However, few population-based studies have investigated B-vitamin status in children.ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess biomarkers of folate and vitamin B-12 status and to explore their dietary determinants in healthy Norwegian children.MethodsUsing baseline data obtained from a randomized controlled trial on the effect of fish intake on neurodevelopment in children aged 4-6 y, we measured the plasma concentrations of folate, cobalamin, total plasma homocysteine (tHcy), and methylmalonic acid (MMA). Food-frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were used to assess dietary intake. We used unadjusted and multiple linear regression models to explore the determinants of biomarker concentrations.ResultsThe median (IQR) of plasma folate (n = 197) and plasma cobalamin (n = 195) concentrations were 15.2 (12.2-21.1) nmol/L and 785 (632-905) pmol/L, respectively. Plasma folate concentrations of <10 nmol/L were observed in 13% of the children. No child had a cobalamin concentration <148 pmol/L. Two children were identified with elevated plasma MMA concentrations (>0.26 μmol/L) and 8 children had elevated tHcy concentrations (>6.5 μmol/L). Plasma folate concentration was inversely correlated with tHcy (ρ = -0.24, P < 0.001); we found no correlation between tHcy and cobalamin (ρ = -0.075, P = 0.30). Children who consumed vitamin supplements had 51% higher plasma folate concentrations (P < 0.0001) than those who did not. Consumption of red meat for dinner more than twice a week was associated with 23% lower plasma folate (P < 0.01). No other significant associations between dietary intake and the biomarkers were observed.ConclusionsThe Norwegian preschool children from this cohort had adequate vitamin B-12 status. Poor folate status was common and associated with elevated tHcy. The implications of poor folate status during childhood should be a prioritized research question. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02331667.

Project description:Study questionTo what extent is dietary folate intake and total folate intake (dietary and supplemental intakes) associated with fecundability, the per cycle probability of conception?Summary answerPreconception dietary folate intake was positively associated with fecundability in a monotonic pattern.What is known alreadySupplemental folic acid has been associated with improved fertility, but little is known about the relation between dietary folate and fecundability.Study design, size, durationA prospective cohort study including 9559 women trying to conceive without fertility treatment and enrolled in the period 2013-2020.Participants/materials, setting, methodsWe used data from two internet-based prospective cohort studies of pregnancy planners from Denmark, where folic acid fortification is not performed (SnartForældre.dk (SF); n = 3755) and North America, where the food supply is fortified with folic acid (Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO); n = 5804). Women contributed menstrual cycles at risk until they reported conception or experienced a censoring event. We used proportional probabilities regression models to compute fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% CI, adjusting for potential confounders.Main results and the role of chanceCompared with a dietary folate intake ≥400 µg/day, the adjusted FRs for women in SF were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85-0.99) for intake 250-399 µg/day, and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-0.94) for intake of <250 µg/day. The corresponding FRs in PRESTO were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.89-1.01) and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.65-1.00). Compared with the highest level of total folate intake (diet folate ≥400 µg/day plus folic acid supplementation), in both cohorts fecundability was lowest among women with the lowest dietary intake <250 µg/day dietary folate and no supplementation (FR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-0.98 [SF] and 0.49, 95% CI: 0.31-0.77 [PRESTO]). Further, total intake dietary folate <250 µg/day plus supplementation was associated with reduced fecundability for SF participants (FR; 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.98) and for PRESTO participants (FR; 0.92, 95% CI: 0.72-1.16).Limitations, reasons for cautionIt is unknown whether dietary folate and folic acid intake affect fecundability on its own or if there is an interaction with other micronutrients provided in healthy diet. Thus, the observed associations may not reflect dietary folate intake alone, but overall healthy diet.Wider implications of the findingsRecommendations for preconception dietary folate intake and folic acid supplementation are of importance not only to prevent neural tube defects but also to enhance fecundability.Study funding/competing interest(s)The study was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01-HD086742). The authors report no competing interests.Trial registration numberN/A.

Project description:Background & aimsAs part of a broader study examining the relationship between serum folate concentrations and prostate cancer progression, we determined if there are age related changes in serum folate concentration compared to folate intake in the U.S. male population.MethodsWeighted data from the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 NHANES databases was analyzed. A subpopulation of male participants was selected who were older than one year of age, had completed two days of dietary recall including supplement usage, and had fasted for at least 4 h prior to having their serum folate measured. Total dietary folate equivalent (DFE) intake (mcg) represented the combination of all natural food folate and folic acid from fortification and dietary supplements. Geometric means of serum folate (nM), red blood cell (RBC) folate (nM), and DFE intake were calculated for nine consecutive age groups, with each group generally representing a 10 year span. Analysis was then focused on males older than 20 years of age.ResultsA total of 19,142 subjects were in the initial NHANES population, which represented over 294 million people within the United States. Applying our inclusion criteria created a final subpopulation size of 3775. Subsequent analysis of the age groups for all males older than 20 years found the following: The mean serum folate (nM) with 95% CI levels ranged from 28.2 (26.6, 29.9) to 55.1 (47.5, 63.9). RBC folate (nM) concentrations with 95% CI levels without any fasting exclusions ranged from 795.6 (741.5, 853.7) to 1038.4 (910.7, 1184.2). Serum and RBC folate concentrations were significantly higher with age across these age groups (p < 0.001). However, the mean total daily DFE intake did not significantly differ ranging from 640.4 (574.7, 713.7) to 720.2 (665, 780) mcg, (p = 0.373). Serum folate concentrations in men with total daily DFE intake of at least 1000 mcg increased more significantly with increasing age than serum folate concentrations in men with less than 400 mcg of total daily DFE intake (p < 0.001). There was a similar trend with the RBC folate concentrations (p = 0.054).ConclusionsWe observed higher serum and RBC folate concentrations and a divergence between dietary folate intake and these folate concentrations in older males. This phenomenon was evident at total DFE intakes that were significantly less than the 1000 mcg tolerable upper intake level currently recommended by the Institute of Medicine.

Dataset Information

Dietary Intake of Folate and Assessment of the Folate Deficiency Prevalence in Slovenia Using Serum Biomarkers.

Publications

Dietary Intake of Folate and Assessment of the Folate Deficiency Prevalence in Slovenia Using Serum Biomarkers.

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