Folic Acid Fortification Increased Folate Levels In Americans
12/23/2005
CHICAGO--Folate intakes increased dramatically after folic acid fortification, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition (136:153-158, 2006). Researchers investigated the changes in serum folate, red blood count (RBC) folate and total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in U.S. adults utilizing data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 1988–2002. NHANES 1988–2002 were based on a stratified, multistage, probability sampling design conducted among civilian U.S. residents. The current study included 17,144, 17,213, and 11,415 measurements for serum folate, RBC folate, and tHcy, respectively.
Overall, geometric mean serum folate concentrations were 149.6 and 129.8 percent higher in 1999–2000 and 2001–2002, respectively, than in 1988-1994. Sex-, age-, and race-ethnicity–adjusted serum folate was significantly lower in 2001–2002 than in 1999–2000 (10.4 percent). The prevalence of low serum folate decreased from 18.4 percent in 1988–1994 to 0.8 percent in 1999–2000 and to 0.2 percent in 2001–2002. RBC folate increased from 391 nmol/L in 1988–1994 to 618 nmol/L in 1999–2000, and to 611 nmol/L in 2001–2002. Consequently, the prevalence of low RBC folate decreased from 45.8 percent in 1988–1994 to 7.3 percent in 1999–2000 and to 7.1 percent in 2001–2002. Although, RBC folate status improved after folic acid fortification in all race-ethnicities, the prevalence of low RBC folate ( 20.5 percent) continues to be high in non-Hispanic blacks. Age-, sex-, and race-ethnicity–adjusted tHcy declined from 9.5 µmol/L in 1988–1994 to 7.6 µmol/L in 1999–2000 and to 7.9 µmol/L in 2001–2002.
The study authors concluded although folic acid fortification contributed to significant improvement in folate status, serum folate concentrations have declined recently. This may be attributable to lower folic acid intakes.
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