Status of plasma folate after folic acid fortification of the food supply in pregnant African American women and the influences of diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
BACKGROUND
African American women and socioeconomically challenged women are at risk of compromised folate status and, thus, of folate-related birth defects. Data are limited on circulating folate concentrations in pregnant African American women after folic acid fortification of the food supply was implemented.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to determine the influence of smoking and alcohol consumption on plasma 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHFA) concentrations in pregnant African American women.


METHODS
Alcohol consumption, smoking exposure, and other characteristics of pregnant African American women reporting to an inner-city antenatal clinic were assessed. At 24 wk of gestation, blood samples and food-frequency intake data were collected. Plasma 5-MTHFA concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for 116 subjects and examined in a correlational study design.


RESULTS
Dietary folate and markers of alcohol consumption were positively associated, whereas exposure to smoke was negatively associated with plasma 5-MTHFA. More than one-half of the participants in this population failed to meet the recommended dietary allowance for dietary folate equivalents of 600 microg/d during pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Most inner-city African American women are not meeting the recommended dietary allowance for dietary folate during pregnancy, and smoking may further compromise their folate status. Programs to reduce smoking and raise awareness about the importance of folate and multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy need to target this population.
Stark
Ken D
KD
Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA.
Pawlosky
Robert J
RJ
Beblo
Skadi
S
Murthy
Mahadev
M
Flanagan
Vincent P
VP
Janisse
James
J
Buda-Abela
Michelle
M
Rockett
Helaine
H
Whitty
Janice E
JE
Sokol
Robert J
RJ
Hannigan
John H
JH
Salem
Norman
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005523:Food Supply; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods; D013763:Tetrahydrofolates / Q000097:blood
D013763:Tetrahydrofolates; D005492:Folic Acid; C005984:5-methyltetrahydrofolate