Relative contribution of dietary folic acid and food folate to total folate intake and status of young men and women

Abstract

The study aim was to assess folate/folic acid intake and folate status of non‐supplement consuming young men and women (18–49 y), and to examine the relative contribution of food sources to folate/folic acid intake. Folate intake and status were determined for men (n = 140) and women (n = 162). Daily folate/folic acid intake was estimated by a DHQ. Mean serum and RBC folate for males (39.9 nmol/L; 810 nmol/L, respectively) did not differ (P>0.2) from that of females (41.7 nmol/L; 767 nmol/L). Plasma homocysteine was higher (P<0.0001) for males (8.0 μmol) than females (6.6 μmol/L). Total folate intake for males and females (652 and 512 μg/d DFE, respectively) exceeded the RDA (400 μg/d DFE). Average folic acid intake for females was 128 μg/d; only 3% consumed ≥400 μg/d. The largest contributors of folic acid for males and females were enriched cereal‐grain products (41.1%; 41.9%, respectively), fortified RTE cereals and bars (29.3%; 36.0%), and combination foods that included “enriched” ingredients (16.0%; 13.2%). Food categories that provided the most naturally occurring food folate for males and females were vegetables (31.6%; 38.4%, respectively) and legumes and nuts (16.2%; 14.4%). Dietary folic acid from enriched grain products and RTE cereals positively affected total folate intake and status of males and females; however, folic acid intake for females was less than that recommended for NTD risk reduction.