title: Dietary habits and folate status in women of childbearing age in Croatia.
abstract: Folic acid and folates have an important role in prevention of neural tube defect that appears in the first weeks of pregnancy, when women are still not aware of their pregnancy, especially when pregnancy is not planned. Since ensuring sufficient quantities of folates and folic acid in this period is essential, dietary habits of childbearing age women are very important. In line with that the intake of folates and folic acid in nutrition of women age group 20-30 years is examined, as well as the frequency of consumption of foodstuffs rich in vitamins and folic acid supplements. Values of folates in serum are presented, dependent on their nutritional habits. Obtained results indicate that in spite of inadequate intake of folates and folic acid from foodstuffs, clinical deficit is not recorded, which is the result of frequent consumption of dietary supplements. In accordance with these dietary habits, differences in the folates status of examinees were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health "Andrija Stampar", School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. jpucarin@snz.hr
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pucarin-Cvetković
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaić-Rak
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matanić
authors.forename: Tajana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zah
authors.forename: Zrinka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Petrović
authors.forename: Antun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Car
authors.forename: Katica Antonić
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Degac
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017523:Croatia; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid