Folate intake by teenage girls and by pregnant women.
In a dietary analysis comprising 110 girls aged 13-15 years and 87 pregnant women the mean folate intake proved to be less than one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Among the girls there was a significantly positive correlation between folate intake and energy intake, while this did not apply to the pregnant women. The reason was that the excess energy intake during pregnancy was only modest, and in many cases it was met by energy calories of low nutritional value. If supplements of folic acid are needed during pregnancy, it is recommended to start prophylaxis as early as possible, as folate intakes by potential mothers (teenage girls) are insufficient to secure a high depot level for folates before pregnancy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid; D006801:Humans; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011247:Pregnancy
D005492:Folic Acid