We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Dietary Intake of Folate and Assessment of the Folate Deficiency Prevalence in Slovenia Using Serum Biomarkers.
- Authors
Pravst, Igor; Lavriša, Živa; Hribar, Maša; Hristov, Hristo; Kvarantan, Naska; Seljak, Barbara Koroušić; Gregorič, Matej; Blaznik, Urška; Gregorič, Nadan; Zaletel, Katja; Oblak, Adrijana; Osredkar, Joško; Žmitek, Katja; Kušar, Anita
- 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.
- Subjects
SLOVENIA; BIOMARKERS; HOMOCYSTEINE; FOLIC acid deficiency; VEGETABLES; SERUM; INGESTION; NUTRITIONAL requirements; SEX distribution; DIETARY supplements; QUESTIONNAIRES; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; FRUIT; EMPLOYMENT; AT-risk people; FOLIC acid; GRAIN; RESIDENTIAL patterns; BODY mass index; EDUCATIONAL attainment
- Publication
Nutrients, 2021, Vol 13, Issue 11, p3860
- ISSN
2072-6643
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/nu13113860