%0 Journal Article
%T Folate Status of Reproductive Age Women and Neural Tube Defect Risk: The Effect of Long-Term Folic Acid Supplementation at Doses of 140 ¦Ìg and 400 ¦Ìg per Day
%A Nicola A. Hursthouse
%A Andrew R. Gray
%A Jody C. Miller
%A Meredith C. Rose
%A Lisa A. Houghton
%J Nutrients
%D 2011
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/nu3010049
%X Primary prevention of most folate-responsive neural tube defects (NTDs) may not require 400 ¦Ìg folic acid/day but may be achieved by attaining a high maternal folate status. Using RBC folate ¡Ý 906 nmol/L as a marker for NTD risk reduction, the study aimed to determine the change in blood folate concentrations in reproductive age women in response to long-term folic acid supplementation at 400 ¦Ìg/day and 140 ¦Ìg/day (dose designed to mimic the average daily folic acid intake received from New Zealand¡¯s proposed mandatory bread fortification program). Participants were randomly assigned to a daily folic acid supplement of 140 ¦Ìg ( n = 49), 400 ¦Ìg ( n = 48) or placebo ( n = 47) for 40£¿weeks. RBC folate concentrations were measured at baseline, and after 6, 12, 29 and 40£¿weeks. At 40 weeks, the overall prevalence of having a RBC folate < 906 nmol/L decreased to 18% and 35% in the 400 ¦Ìg and 140 ¦Ìg groups, respectively, while remaining relatively unchanged at 58% in the placebo group. After 40 weeks, there was no evidence of a difference in RBC folate between the two treatment groups ( P = 0.340), nor was there evidence of a difference in the odds of a RBC folate < 906 nmol/L ( P = 0.078). In conclusion, the average daily intake of folic acid received from the proposed fortification program would increase RBC folate concentrations in reproductive age women to levels associated with a low risk of NTDs.
%K neural tube defects
%K blood folate status
%K folic acid fortification
%K supplementation
%U http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/3/1/49