The Effects of Folic Acid‐Fortified Food and Nutrition Education on Folate Nutritional Status and Behavioral Capability in Korean Women of Child‐Bearing Age

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of folic acid‐fortified food and nutrition education on folate status and behavioral capability of Korean women of child‐bearing age. Instant rice fortified with 400 μg of folic acid per serving (one bowl) was developed. Seventy‐eight women aged between 19 and 35 who were at risk of folate deficiency were randomly assigned to 'non‐fortified food group', 'fortified food group', 'non‐fortified food and nutrition education group' and 'fortified food and nutrition education group'. All the subjects were asked to eat one bowl of fortified or non‐fortified food blindly once a day for 4 weeks. Nutrition education based on social cognitive theory was given to nutrition education group once a week. Questionnaire survey and hematological analysis were performed both at the baseline and at the end of the intervention. Serum and red blood cell folate concentrations increased significantly and serum homocysteine concentrations decreased significantly in the fortified food groups after the intervention. The proportions of folate deficiency decreased significantly in the fortified food groups. The variables of social cognitive theory including outcome expectations and behavioral capability score increased significantly in the nutrition education groups after the intervention. Our results suggest that folic acid‐fortified food is effective in improving folate nutritional status even after 4‐week supplementation, and nutrition education has a positive impact on the various factors related to behavior change.