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. 2010 May;38(5):534-42.
doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2010.01.025. Epub 2010 Mar 28.

Folic acid intake among U.S. women aged 15-44 years, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2006

Sarah C Tinker  1 , Mary E Cogswell, Owen Devine, Robert J Berry
Affiliations

Folic acid intake among U.S. women aged 15-44 years, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2006

Sarah C Tinker et al. Am J Prev Med. 2010 May.

Abstract

Background: In 1998, the IOM recommended all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 microg of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects (NTDs).

Purpose: This paper aims to describe how different sources of folic acid contribute to achieving the recommended usual daily intake.

Methods: Data on 2617 nonpregnant U.S. women aged 15-44 years from the 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed in 2009. The usual daily folic acid intake from diet and supplements accounting for measurement error; the proportion of women consuming the recommended usual intake; and the adjusted associations of recommended intake with multiple characteristics were estimated.

Results: Overall, 24% of nonpregnant U.S. women of childbearing age consumed the recommended usual intake (95% CI=20%, 27%). Intake was highest among non-Hispanic white women (30%), followed by Mexican-American (17%) and non-Hispanic black women (9%). Among women who used supplements with folic acid, 72% (95% CI=65%, 79%) consumed the recommended usual intake. Use of supplements was the strongest determinant (unadjusted prevalence ratio [PR]: 10.2, 95% CI=7.1, 14.7) of recommended intake, mediating associations of other characteristics. Among the 68% of women who did not use supplements, consumption of cereals with folic acid and having diabetes were the strongest determinants of recommended usual intake (PRs=20.2 and 0.10, respectively).

Conclusions: Given that consumption of folic acid is an important public health goal to prevent NTDs, an evaluation of strategies, beyond recommendations that women consume supplements, is needed.

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