Predictors of folate status among pregnant Japanese women: the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health, 2002-2012.
The International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects, Surveillance and Research reports a rise in the prevalence rate of spina bifida in Japan. We determined first-trimester folate status of Hokkaido women and identified potential predictors. Participants were 15 266 pregnant women of the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health Cohort. Data were extracted from self-reported questionnaires and biochemical assay results. Demographic determinants of low folate status were younger maternal age (adjusted OR (AOR) 1·48; 95 % CI 1·32, 1·66), lower educational level (AOR 1·27; 95 % CI 1·17, 1·39) and lower annual income (AOR 1·11; 95 % CI 1·01, 1·22). Plasma cotinine concentrations of 1·19-65·21 nmol/l increased the risk of low folate status (AOR 1·20; 95 % CI 1·10, 1·31) and concentrations >65·21 nmol/l further increased the risk (AOR 1·91; 95 % CI 1·70, 2·14). The most favourable predictor was use of folic acid (FA) supplements (AOR 0·19; 95 % CI 0·17, 0·22). Certain socio-demographic factors influence folate status among pregnant Japanese women. Modifiable negative and positive predictors were active and passive tobacco smoking and use of FA supplements. Avoiding both active and passive tobacco smoking and using FA supplements could improve the folate status of Japanese women.
1Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Sapporo 060-0812,Japan.
Thamar A
TA
Yila
1Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Sapporo 060-0812,Japan.
Atsuko
A
Araki
2Department of Public Health Sciences,Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine,Sapporo 060-8638,Japan.
Seiko
S
Sasaki
1Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Sapporo 060-0812,Japan.
Chihiro
C
Miyashita
2Department of Public Health Sciences,Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine,Sapporo 060-8638,Japan.
Kumiko
K
Itoh
1Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Sapporo 060-0812,Japan.
Tamiko
T
Ikeno
3Department of Health Sciences,Asahikawa Medical University,Asahikawa 078-8510,Japan.
Eiji
E
Yoshioka
2Department of Public Health Sciences,Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine,Sapporo 060-8638,Japan.
Sumitaka
S
Kobayashi
1Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Sapporo 060-0812,Japan.
Houman
H
Goudarzi
2Department of Public Health Sciences,Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine,Sapporo 060-8638,Japan.
Toshiaki
T
Baba
1Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Sapporo 060-0812,Japan.
Titilola
T
Braimoh
4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine,Sapporo 060-8638,Japan.
Hisanori
H
Minakami
5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,School of Medicine,Sapporo Medical University,Sapporo 060-8556,Japan.
Toshiaki
T
Endo
6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Asahikawa Medical University,Asahikawa 078-8510,Japan.
Kazuo
K
Sengoku
1Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Sapporo 060-0812,Japan.
Reiko
R
Kishi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid; D003367:Cotinine
AOR adjusted OR; ETS environmental tobacco smoke; FA folic acid; Folate status; Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children’s Health; NTD neural tube defects; Pregnancy; Tobacco smoking