Changes in folate status in overweight/obese women following two different weight control programmes based on an increased consumption of vegetables or fortified breakfast cereals.
The modification of folate status was analysed in a group of sixty-seven overweight/obese women of childbearing age (20-35 years). Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two slightly hypocaloric diets: diet V (increased consumption of vegetables) or diet C (increased consumption of breakfast cereals). Dietetic, anthropometric and biochemical data were collected at the start of the study and again at 2 and 6 weeks. At 6 weeks a weight loss of 2.0 (sd 1.3) kg was achieved in V subjects and of 2.8 (sd 1.4) kg in C subjects (P < 0.05). At the start of the study, 64.2 % of all subjects had a folate intake of < 67 % of the recommended intake; this fell to just 3 % (7.14 % of V subjects and 0 % of C subjects) by week 6. Significant increases were only seen in C subjects in serum folate concentrations (both at 2 and 6 weeks), accompanied by a significant reduction in serum homocysteine (at week 6). Some 62.1 % of all subjects had serum folate concentrations of > or = 13.6 nmol/l (associated with a very low risk of neural tube defects) at the start of the study, while 87.0 % (85.2 % of V subjects and 88.9 % of C subjects) had concentrations of > or = 13.6 nmol/l at 6 weeks (P < 0.01). Increasing the relative consumption of vegetables/cereals in the context of a slightly hypocaloric diet may therefore be a good way to lose body weight. Breakfast cereals may be of special help with respect to folate status and serum homocysteine levels in overweight/obese young women following energy restriction diets.
Ortega
R M
RM
Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain. rortega@farm.ucm.es
López-Sobaler
A M
AM
Andrés
P
P
Rodríguez-Rodríguez
E
E
Aparicio
A
A
Bermejo
L M
LM
López-Plaza
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004435:Eating; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight; D014675:Vegetables; D015431:Weight Loss
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid