Impact of voluntary fortification and supplement use on dietary intakes and biomarker status of folate and vitamin B-12 in Irish adults.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Ireland has traditionally operated a liberal policy of voluntary fortification, but little is known about how this practice, along with supplement use, affects population intakes and status of folate and vitamin B-12.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim was to examine the relative impact of voluntary fortification and supplement use on dietary intakes and biomarker status of folate and vitamin B-12 in Irish adults.

DESIGN:

Folic acid and vitamin B-12 from fortified foods and supplements were estimated by using brand information for participants from the cross-sectional National Adult Nutrition Survey 2008-2010. Dietary and biomarker values were compared between 6 mutually exclusive consumption groups formed on the basis of folic acid intake.

RESULTS:

The consumption of folic acid through fortified foods at low, medium, and high levels of exposure [median (IQR) intakes of 22 (13, 32), 69 (56, 84), and 180 (137, 248) μg/d, respectively]; from supplements [203 (150, 400) μg/d]; or from both sources [287 (220, 438) μg/d] was associated with significantly higher folate intakes and status compared with nonconsumption of folic acid (18% of the population). Median (IQR) red blood cell (RBC) folate increased significantly from 699 (538, 934) nmol/L in nonconsumers to 1040 (83, 1390) nmol/L in consumers with a high intake of fortified foods (P < 0.001), with further nonsignificant increases in supplement users. Supplement use but not fortification was associated with significantly higher serum vitamin B-12 concentrations relative to nonconsumers (P < 0.001). Two-thirds of young women had suboptimal RBC folate for protection against neural tube defects (NTDs); among nonconsumers of folic acid, only 16% attained optimal RBC folate.

CONCLUSIONS:

The consumption of voluntarily fortified foods and/or supplement use was associated with significantly higher dietary intakes and biomarker status of folate in Irish adults. Of concern, the majority of young women remain suboptimally protected against NTDs.

• Authors: Sinéad M Hopkins, Michael J Gibney, Anne P Nugent, Helene McNulty, Anne M Molloy, John M Scott, Albert Flynn, J J Strain, Mary Ward, Janette Walton, Breige A McNulty
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 101 Issue 6 Pg. 1163-72 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1938-3207 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25877491 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2015 American Society for Nutrition.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Folic Acid
• MTHFR protein, human
• Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Body Mass Index
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Dietary Supplements
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Erythrocytes (drug effects, metabolism)
• Female
• Folic Acid (administration & dosage, blood)
• Food, Fortified
• Humans
• Ireland
• Male
• Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) (genetics, metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Neural Tube Defects (prevention & control)
• Nutrition Assessment
• Nutrition Surveys
• Nutritional Status
• Vitamin B 12 (administration & dosage, blood)
• Young Adult