According to the most recent report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) folate intake in the general population is still below targeted values. In 1998 the FDA implemented a folic acid enrichment program aimed at women of childbearing age, the young, and the elderly.
Folate, or folic acid, is involved in the production of DNA, cellular replication, and when deficient can result in neural tube defects (NTD).
The FDA's original goal was to have more than 50 percent of women of childbearing age receive 400 mcg or more of folate a day, but it has fallen below its mark. The most recent survey found that only 39 percent of white women met the 400 mcg per day. Percentages in African and Mexican Americans were much lower, 26 and 28 percent respectively.
Still, they were optimistic that rates of NTD fell from 32 percent to 20 percent in the last eight years since implementation. And overall intake seemed to increase by at least 100 mcg in at risk populations.
The report concluded that the level of folic acid intake is still far below the goal. Women of childbearing age and others at risk for deficiency should be taking a multivitamin with folic acid to insure the recommended 400 mcg per day until the enrichment program can insure adequate intake via diet.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on October 6, 2006 02:22 PM
