Dietary Intake of Folate and Assessment of the Folate Deficiency Prevalence in Slovenia Using Serum Biomarkers.
Nutrients
; 13(11)2021 Oct 28.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34836112
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.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Dieta
/
Ácido Fólico
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Deficiência de Ácido Fólico
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Homocisteína
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
/
Aged
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Child
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
/
Pregnancy
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nutrients
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Eslovênia