Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 83–90. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602497; published online 2 August 2006
Folate intakes and folate biomarker profiles of pregnant Japanese women in the first trimester
Contributors: NM has contributed to data collection and analysis, the main investigation, and writing the paper. HT was involved in planning and coordinating the study, data collection and analysis, and produced the draft of the paper. KU was the supervisor and coordinator of the investigation. AI and KK were involved in data collection and analysis. SA, MY, HF and SO were responsible for selection of patients, and contributed to data collection. HI was involved in the study design. NY designed the study and was the overall supervisor of the project, and approved the manuscript.
N Mito1, H Takimoto2, K Umegaki1, A Ishiwaki3, K Kusama4, H Fukuoka5, S Ohta6, S Abe7, M Yamawaki8, H Ishida9 and N Yoshiike3
- 1Division of Applied Food Research, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
- 2Section of Maternal and Child Health, Department of Health Promotion and Research, National Institute of Public Health, Saitama, Japan
- 3Division of Health and Nutrition Monitoring, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
- 4Department of Health Science, Facility of Human Life and Environmental Science, Kochi Women's University, Kochi, Japan
- 5Department of Developmental Medical Science, Graduate School of International Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- 6Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Ohta Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- 7Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Metropolitan Ohtsuka Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- 8Matsushima Women's and Children's Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
- 9Laboratory of Administrative Dietetics, Kagawa Nutrition University, Saitama, Japan
Correspondence: Dr N Mito, Division of Applied Food Research, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjiku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. E-mail: himawari@nih.go.jp
Received 4 October 2005; Revised 21 April 2006; Accepted 25 May 2006; Published online 2 August 2006.
Abstract
Objective:
To assess the status of dietary folate intake, serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate, and related nutritional biomarkers in healthy Japanese women in early pregnancy.
Design:
A cross-sectional, observational study.
Subjects:
Pregnant women in the first trimester, at 7–15 weeks gestation (n=70), who were not consuming any folate supplements or folate fortified foods.
Methods:
Three-day dietary records were obtained from each subject to assess dietary folate intake. Blood samples were collected for measurement of biomarkers. Biomarkers and nutrient intake were analyzed in two groups defined by their serum folate concentrations: the low folate group (serum folate <9 ng/ml) and the high folate group (serum folate 
9 ng/ml).
Result:
Mean serum and RBC folate concentrations in all subjects were 10.3 and 519 ng/ml, respectively. These levels were remarkably higher than the reported values from many other countries despite our subjects receiving no folic acids supplements. However, mean folate intake by our subjects from natural foods was 289 
g/day, which is thought to be low according to the Japanese dietary recommendation specified for pregnant women. The intake of spinach and fruits was significantly greater in the high folate group than in the low folate group.
Conclusion:
Folate intake was thought to be adequate to maintain a desirable level of serum folate concentration in Japanese pregnant women in the first trimester, although the intake of folate from natural food was not high enough to meet the recommended daily intake.
Sponsorship:
This study was funded by a Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare, Health and Labour Research Grant, for Research on Children and Families.
Keywords:
folate, dietary intake, pregnant women
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