engleski

Comparison of two food composition databases in estimating folate intake among young women

Introduction: Adequate folate status is considered as a potential public health issue. Consequences of folate insufficiency arising from inadequate intake include increased risk for neural tube defects making folate a critical nutrient among women of reproductive age. Accurate estimation of dietary folate intake depends on limitations of dietary assessment methods, methodological issues related to the biochemical analysis of food folates, adjustment for bioavailability differences between naturally occurring food folate and folic acid from fortified foods and dietary supplements and inaccuracies related to product label declarations. The aim of this study was to compare the application of two different food composition databases (FCDB) in estimating dietary folate intake. Subjects and Methods: Previously validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) (Int J Food Sci Nutr 60 Suppl 5: 10) was administered to young women (n=709, age range 18-30 years) and the daily folate intake was calculated by using two FCDBs: Kaić-Rak & Antonić (1990) (FCDB1) and Regional FCDB (FCDB2). Folate intake measured by the FFQ was expressed as dietary folate equivalents (DFE) with 1.7 equivalency factor for folic acid from fortified foods and dietary supplements and factor 2 for folic acid from dietary supplements taken on an empty stomach. Results: The average folate intake was 247 ± 400 and 252 ± 405 μg DFE using FCDB1 and FCDB2, respectively, and the means didn’t differ significantly. The average difference between the folate intake using two FCDBs was 5.7 ± 40.3 μ DFE. Conclusion: Folate intake among the studied sample of young women was below recommended 400 μg/day and regarding data for food folate, both FCDBs could be used interchangeably. Funding under projects: bilateral project funded by Ministries of Science of Serbia and Croatia: Folate status in populations at risk: young adult women of reproductive age and elderly ; FP7 EuroFIR-Nexus ; Ministry of Science, Serbia III grant 41030 ; 058-0222411-2820: Diet, homocysteine and bone health, Ministry of science, education and sport, Croatia

folate; food composition database; FFQ; women

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