Abstract | BACKGROUND: AIM OF THE STUDY: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the levels of dietary folate intake during pregnancy in Japanese women and the subsequent birth weight of their babies. METHODS: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted with 197 women with a singleton pregnancy in 2005. Dietary folate was investigated 3 times: in the first trimester at 12 weeks, in the second trimester at 20 weeks and in third trimester at 32 weeks using a diet history questionnaire (DHQ). Non fasting blood samples were collected from the women for measurement of homocysteine, hemoglobin, ferritin, unbound iron-binding capacity (UIBC) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). RESULTS: Energy intake increased as pregnancy advanced, but not significantly. The daily intake of folate increased from 248.5 +/- 113.1 microg/d in the first trimester to 275.4 +/- 100.2 microg/d in the third trimester (P = 0.04). This was well below the recommended level of 440 microg/d and only 10% of mothers were above the levels. In the third trimester, plasma homocysteine concentration was significantly higher in the low folate group of less than 250 microg/d (P = 0.02), but not the first and second trimesters. Dietary folate intake and plasma homocysteine concentrations were not likely to be predictors of birth weight in our subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that Japanese women's energy and folate intakes do not meet their energy needs during pregnancy and are at an extremely low recommended dietary allowance level throughout pregnancy.
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Authors | Hiroko Watanabe, Hideoki Fukuoka, Takashi Sugiyama, Yasushi Nagai, Kayoko Ogasawara, Nobuo Yoshiike |
Journal | European journal of nutrition
(Eur J Nutr)
Vol. 47
Issue 6
Pg. 341-7
(Sep 2008)
ISSN: 1436-6215 [Electronic] Germany |
PMID | 18709472
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Biomarkers
- Homocysteine
- Vitamin B Complex
- Folic Acid
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Topics |
- Adult
- Biomarkers
(blood)
- Birth Weight
(drug effects, physiology)
- Energy Intake
(physiology)
- Female
- Folic Acid
(administration & dosage, blood)
- Folic Acid Deficiency
(blood, epidemiology, physiopathology)
- Homocysteine
(blood)
- Humans
- Infant, Newborn
- Japan
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
(physiology)
- Nutritional Requirements
- Nutritional Status
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Outcome
- Prospective Studies
- Vitamin B Complex
(administration & dosage, blood)
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