Dietary Intakes of Folate In Young Women

<p>Folate deficiency has recently drawn attention as a risk factor that causes fetal malformation. We conducted a dietary survey using a measuring method on female students to investigate the state of nutrient intake, and folate intake in particular. The female students had a low energy intake of 1,550 ± 450 kcal, which accounted for 86% of the dietary energy allowance for women in their twenties. The female students' intakes of many vitamins and minerals were also much lower than the respective dietary allowances. Their intakes of protein and lipid accounted for 97% and 114% of the dietary allowances, respectively. The rates of meeting the intake targets classified by food group for men and women in their twenties were low for many food groups. However, the mean folate intake was 223 土 105 μg, accounting for 112 % of the dietary folate allowance in women in their twenties. This finding indicated that a dietary folate allowance of 200 μg for women in their twenties could be consumed from the ordinary diet practically taken by the female students. The former Ministry of Health and Welfare recommended that pregnant women took 400 μg folate from meals and 400 μg from nutrition supplementary food during before one month and the third month of pregnancy to reduce the risk of developing fetal neural tube defects. It has been reported, however, that few women in the fertile age take nutrition supplementary food. Therefore, we analyzed the food dietary constitution that allowed folate intake of 400 μg or 800 μg from diet. It was demonstrated that consumption of 200 g of green vegetables and 200 g of other vegetables allowed folate intake of 400 μg, and that consumption of 450 g of green vegetables and 200 g of other vegetables with green tea as something to drink allowed a folate intake of 800 μg just from the diet.</p>