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Acute absorption of folic acid from a fortified low-fat spread

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 1235–1241 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To explore the feasibility of low-fat spreads as vehicles for folic acid (FA) fortification by determining the acute absorption of FA from a fortified spread.

Design: Double blind, crossover study to test each of the following treatments administered at 1-weekly intervals: (A) 20 g low-fat (40%) spread fortified with 200 μg FA and a placebo tablet; (B) 20 g low-fat placebo spread and a 200 μg FA tablet; (C) 20 g low-fat placebo spread and a placebo tablet.

Subjects: A total of 13 male volunteers, aged 31.8±13.2 y.

Main outcome measures: Plasma total folate concentrations, measured before and up to 10 h after each treatment (n=10 samples per treatment).

Results: Plasma folate concentrations were significantly increased compared with baseline values 1 h after administration of the FA tablet, and 1.5 h after the FA spread, and remained significantly higher than the baseline values for up to 7 h after both treatments. The maximum plasma folate response (Rmax), corrected for baseline values and ‘placebo response’, was established between 1 and 3 h postprandially in response to both FA spread and FA tablet, and no significant difference in Rmax was found between the two treatments (13.4 vs 14.4 nmol/l, P=0.9). The acute absorption of FA from fortified spread relative to that from the tablet, calculated on the basis of area under the plasma folate response curve, was 67% (P=0.04).

Conclusion: The absorption of FA from fortified low-fat spread, although lower than from a tablet, is effective. These results suggest that low-fat spreads, typically associated with fat-soluble vitamin fortification, may also be considered feasible as vehicles for FA fortification.

Sponsorship: Unilever, The Netherlands.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the volunteers who kindly participated in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, University of Ulster at Coleraine, Northern Ireland

    K Pentieva, D McKillop, N Duffy & H McNulty

  2. Unilever Research Vlaardingen, The Netherlands

    E A M de Deckere, R G J M Jacobs & N M J van der Put

Authors
  1. K Pentieva
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  2. D McKillop
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  3. N Duffy
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  4. E A M de Deckere
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  5. R G J M Jacobs
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  6. N M J van der Put
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  7. H McNulty
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Contributions

Guarantor: Professor H McNulty.

Contributors: KP participated in the study design and was responsible for statistical analysis, interpretation of the data and writing the paper. DMcK was responsible for study execution and laboratory analysis. ND participated in recruitment of the subjects, study execution, sample collection and laboratory analysis. EAMD was involved in hypothesis development, study design and provision of the product. RGJMJ was responsible for hypothesis development, study design and provision of the product. NMJP participated in hypothesis development, study design and provision of the product. HMcN was responsible for planning the study and study design and participated in the statistical analysis, interpretation of the data and writing the paper.

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Correspondence to K Pentieva.

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Pentieva, K., McKillop, D., Duffy, N. et al. Acute absorption of folic acid from a fortified low-fat spread. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 1235–1241 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601674

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