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Last Updated: Apr 16, 2008 - 5:52:06 PM |
THURSDAY JAN 10, 2008 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Women at childbearing age, particularly those between 18 and 24 years of age, do not get the recommended daily dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid, which is believed to reduce risk of birth defects such as neural tube defects, according to two studies appearing in this week's issue of the
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Neural tube defects include abnormalities in the development of the brain and spine leading to severe disability or even death. It's believed that women should have enough folic acid right at the start of pregnancy, not from the time when they become aware of pregnancy.
One study led by researchers from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and other organizations surveyed women age 18 to 45 for their awareness, knowledge and use of folic acid supplements by analyzing data furnished by the Gallup Organization from 2003 to 2007.
Less than 48 percent of women except for women who were confirmed to be pregnant took a daily folic acid supplement during the study period, according to the report.
The rate of women taking the supplements was 40 percent among all eligible women in 2007 compared to 25 to 31 percent among women 18 to 25 years of age. In this group, 61 percent of women were aware of and 6 percent know of the importance of folic acid compared to other age groups.
Race, education and household income all affected the odds of taking folic acid supplements. Whites, non-Hispanics, higher education and greater household income all were associated with a greater likelihood of taking the supplements.
In another study, researchers from the Puerto Rico Department of Health and the CDC at Atlanta also examined knowledge and consumption of folic acid among women age 18 to 44 and the incidence of neural tube defects in Puerto Rico between 1996 and 2006.
During the period of 1997 to 2003, the folic acid knowledge and consumption increased, apparently resulting in a drop in the incidence of neural tube defects. Between 2003 and 2006, the knowledge and consumption of folic acid declined, but leading to no significant change in the incidence of the birth defects.
In 1997, 22.4 percent of women were aware of the recommendation that pregnant women should take folic acid to prevent birth defects, but 20.2 percent actually used folic acid supplements.
In this study, researchers found the same thing about women age 18 to 24. That is, they were the least likely to use folic acid supplements.
Some researchers have challenged the norm of folic acid supplementation as they found the synthetic folic acid and its natural counterpart go through different metabolisms or pathways. Evidence shows the folic acid supplements if used in large doses could do more harm than good.
A scientist affiliated with foodconsumer.org suggested that women of childbearing age should use enough plant foods such as cooked spinach, asparagus, lentils, garbanzo beans, and lima beans, which contain high levels of natural folic acid. Folic acid supplements should be used in an adequate dose only when plant foods are not accessible.
For more information on folic acid, visit http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/fa/
© 2004-2008 by foodconsumer.org unless otherwise specified
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