[Folic acid fortified foods available in Spain: types of products, level of fortification and target population groups].
BACKGROUND
Folic acid is a potentially relevant factor in the prevention of a number of pathologies (congenital abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer and neurocognitive decline). This has led to the introduction of different strategies in order to increase folate intake: nutritional education, pharmacological supplementation and mandatory or voluntary fortification of staple foods with folic acid. In Spain there is a growing number of folic acid fortified products on a voluntary basis, but there is also a lack of reliable data to assess their impact on the population's dietary folate intakes.


OBJECTIVE
To gather a better knowledge of folic acid food fortification practices in Spain.


METHODS
A Food Composition Database was developed using data from a market study. Also, previously published data of unfortified staple foods from Food Composition Tables was reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
The Database included 260 folic acid fortified food items and it was periodically updated. Food groups included were primarily "Cereals and derivatives" (52%) followed by "Dairy products". Most of these foodstuffs lacked a target population for their consumption (37%) or were aimed at "Weight control" (28%) and "Children" (23%), but only 2% targeted women at a reproductive age. Number of unfortified foods included was 690. Fortification levels declared by manufacturers ranged between 15 and 430% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for folic acid per 100 g/ml, and simultaneous addition of B6 and B12 vitamins was observed in 75% of the products. Currently, Spain market offers a significant number of folic acid fortified products on a voluntary basis and at a level > or = 15% of the RDA per 100 g/ml or serving declared by manufacturers.
Samaniego Vaesken
M L
ML
Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Alimentación, Universidad San Pablo CEU, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, España.
Alonso-Aperte
E
E
Varela-Moreiras
G
G
D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain
D005492:Folic Acid