title: Red cell folate and predicted neural tube defect rate in three Asian cities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periconceptional folic acid reduces neural tube defect (NTD) risk. Red blood cell folate concentration is inversely associated with NTD risk. In many countries there is a lack of information on NTD rates. Red cell folate status in women of childbearing age may be a surrogate for NTD rates and may be helpful in identifying countries or regions most likely to benefit from improved folate status.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To predict NTD rates using red cell folate concentrations in women of childbearing age living in three Asian cities Design: Cross-sectional convenience samples of non-pregnant women living in Beijing (n=220), Kuala Lumpur (n=389), and Jakarta (n=129).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Red cell folate concentrations were highest (p<0.001) in women from Jakarta at 872 nmol/L (95% CI; 833, 910) followed by Kuala Lumpur at 674 nmol/L (95% CI: 644, 704) and lowest in Beijing at 563 nmol/L (95% CI: 524, 601). Accordingly, predicted NTD rates were highest in Beijing at 30/10000 (95% CI: 27, 33), followed by Kuala Lumpur at 24/10000 (95% CI: 22, 25), and lowest in Jakarta at 15/10000 (95% CI: 14,15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our red blood cell folate data suggests that of the three cities improving the folate status of women in Beijing would have the greatest impact on NTD rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: C Murray
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Skeaff
authors.forename: Bernard J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Venn
authors.forename: Jennifer Ep
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rockell
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Geok L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Khor
authors.forename: Su Peng
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duraisamy
authors.forename: Siti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muslimatun
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agustina
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016742:Preconception Care
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid