Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine if a once-a-week folic acid supplement increases women's red blood cell folate to concentrations (>905 nmol/l) that are associated with a low risk of bearing a child with a neural tube defect.
DESIGN
Randomized control trial.
SETTING
General community.
SUBJECTS
In total, 114 nonpregnant women (18-40 y) volunteers, with red blood cell folate concentrations between 295 and 905 nmol/l at screening.
INTERVENTION
Women were randomized to receive a once-a-week 2800 microg folic acid supplement, a daily 400 microg folic acid supplement or a daily placebo for 12 weeks.
RESULTS
The mean (95% CI) red blood cell folate concentrations increased during the 12-week intervention from 608 (553-668) to 900 (828-978) in the weekly folic acid group (P<0.05) and from 615 (560-677) to 1053 (957-1158) nmol/l in the daily group (P<0.05) during the trial. At week 12, 49% of women ingesting the weekly folic acid supplement had red blood cell folate concentrations greater than 905 nmol/l compared to 74% of women ingesting the daily supplement.
CONCLUSION
A once-a-week 2800 microg folic acid supplement can increase women's red blood cell folate to concentrations associated with a reduced risk of bearing a child with a neural tube defect, but is less effective than a 400 microg daily supplement. Use of a weekly folic acid supplement over at least 12 weeks before conception by women of child-bearing age may prevent neural tube defects.
FUNDING
The Otago Medical Research Foundation (Laurenson Award). Healtheries (New Zealand) provided the supplements.
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of once-a-week or daily folic acid supplementation on red blood cell folate concentrations in women.
AU - Norsworthy,B,
AU - Skeaff,C M,
AU - Adank,C,
AU - Green,T J,
PY - 2004/2/27/pubmed
PY - 2004/6/30/medline
PY - 2004/2/27/entrez
SP - 548
EP - 54
JF - European journal of clinical nutrition
JO - Eur J Clin Nutr
VL - 58
IS - 3
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine if a once-a-week folic acid supplement increases women's red blood cell folate to concentrations (>905 nmol/l) that are associated with a low risk of bearing a child with a neural tube defect. DESIGN: Randomized control trial. SETTING: General community. SUBJECTS: In total, 114 nonpregnant women (18-40 y) volunteers, with red blood cell folate concentrations between 295 and 905 nmol/l at screening. INTERVENTION: Women were randomized to receive a once-a-week 2800 microg folic acid supplement, a daily 400 microg folic acid supplement or a daily placebo for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The mean (95% CI) red blood cell folate concentrations increased during the 12-week intervention from 608 (553-668) to 900 (828-978) in the weekly folic acid group (P<0.05) and from 615 (560-677) to 1053 (957-1158) nmol/l in the daily group (P<0.05) during the trial. At week 12, 49% of women ingesting the weekly folic acid supplement had red blood cell folate concentrations greater than 905 nmol/l compared to 74% of women ingesting the daily supplement. CONCLUSION: A once-a-week 2800 microg folic acid supplement can increase women's red blood cell folate to concentrations associated with a reduced risk of bearing a child with a neural tube defect, but is less effective than a 400 microg daily supplement. Use of a weekly folic acid supplement over at least 12 weeks before conception by women of child-bearing age may prevent neural tube defects. FUNDING: The Otago Medical Research Foundation (Laurenson Award). Healtheries (New Zealand) provided the supplements.
SN - 0954-3007
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/14985695/Effects_of_once_a_week_or_daily_folic_acid_supplementation_on_red_blood_cell_folate_concentrations_in_women_
L2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601843
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
