Assessment of nutritional folate status and selected vitamin status of women of childbearing age.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate folate and other selected vitamin status (ascorbic acid, tocopherol, retinol, vitamin B12), haematological indices and total homocysteine concentration of serum in women of childbearing age.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Warsaw.


METHODS
Healthy women aged 18-30 y (n=78) not pregnant presently or previously, and not taking drugs.


RESULTS
Haemoglobin and haematocrit values according to WHO criteria for 18 to 30-y-old women were normal. The optimal levels of serum tocopherol, >1.29 mg/dl (>29.9 micromol/l) to preventing civilization diseases, were found in 5.5% and serum retinol >71.6 mcg/dl (>2.5 micromol/l) in 6.4% of all studied persons. The analysis of serum folate concentration showed high-risk deficiency,<3 ng/ml (<6.8 nmol/l), in 6.4%, moderate and low risk together (7.0-14.9 nmol/l) in 61.6% and optimal folate levels (>14.9 nmol/l) in 32.0% of the studied group. Folate body stores were insufficient in almost all women. There was no high or moderate deficiency risk of vitamin B12 or ascorbic acid. None of the women under study had serum total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration >15 micromol/l, indicating hyperhomocysteinaemia. Serum total homocysteine concentrations in the range of 5-15 micromol/l were found in 71.8%, and serum tHcy >10 micromol/l in 7.7% of the studied group of women.


BACKGROUND
The study was sponsored by the Polish Committee for Scientific Research.
Wartanowicz
M
M
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Institute of Food and Nutrition, Warsaw, Poland. sziemlans@mail.jzz.waw.pl
Ziemlański
S
S
Bułhak-Jachymczyk
B
B
Konopka
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011044:Poland; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*
D014815:Vitamins; D006710:Homocysteine; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid