Folate Deficiency Is Prevalent in Women of Childbearing Age in Belize and Is Negatively Affected by Coexisting Vitamin B-12 Deficiency: Belize National Micronutrient Survey 20111–4

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Nutr
• Personal Author:
  Rosenthal, Jorge ; Largaespada, Natalia ; Bailey, Lynn B ; Cannon, Michael ; Alverson, CJ ; Ortiz, Dayrin ; Kauwell, Gail PA ; Sniezek, Joe ; Figueroa, Ramon ; Daly, Robyn ; Allen, Peter
• Description:
  Background
  
  Folate deficiency, vitamin B-12 deficiency, and anemia can have adverse effects on birth outcomes. Also, low vitamin B-12 reduces the formation of metabolically active folate.
  
  Objectives
  
  We sought to establish the baseline prevalence of and factors associated with folate deficiency and insufficiency, vitamin B-12 deficiency, and anemia among women of childbearing age (WCBA) in Belize.
  
  Methods
  
  In 2011, a national probability-based survey was completed among Belizean nonpregnant WCBA aged 15–49 y. Blood samples for determination of hemoglobin, folate (RBC and serum), and vitamin B-12 (plasma) and sociodemographic and health information were collected from 937 women. RBC and serum folate concentrations were measured by microbiologic assay (MBA). Folate status was defined based on both the WHO-recommended radioproteinbinding assay and the assay adjusted for the MBA.
  
  Results
  
  The national prevalence estimates for folate deficiency in WCBA, based on serum and RBC folate concentrations by using the assay-matched cutoffs, were 11.0% (95% CI: 8.6%, 14.0%) and 35.1% (95% CI: 31.3%, 39.2%), respectively. By using the assay-matched compared with the WHO-recommended cutoffs, a substantially higher prevalence of folate deficiency was observed based on serum (6.9% absolute difference) and RBC folate (28.9% absolute difference) concentrations. The prevalence for RBC folate insufficiency was 48.9% (95%CI: 44.8%, 53.1%). Prevalence estimates for vitamin B-12 deficiency and marginal deficiency and anemia were 17.2% (95% CI: 14.2%, 20.6%), 33.2% (95% CI: 29.6%, 37.1%), and 22.7% (95% CI: 19.5%, 26.2%), respectively. The adjusted geometric means of the RBC folate concentration increased significantly (P-trend < 0.001) in WCBA who had normal vitamin B-12 status relative to WCBA who were vitamin B-12 deficient.
  
  Conclusions
  
  In Belize, the prevalence of folate and vitamin B-12 deficiencies continues to be a public health concern among WCBA. Furthermore, low folate status co-occurred with low vitamin B-12 status, underlining the importance of providing adequate vitamin B-12 and folic acid intake through approaches such as mandatory food fortification.
  
  
• Keywords:
  Adolescent Adult Anemia Belize Erythrocytes Female Folate Deficiency Folate Insufficiency Folic Acid Folic Acid Deficiency Hemoglobins Humans Middle Aged Nutritional Status Nutrition Surveys Prevalence Risk Factors Vitamin B-12 Deficiency Vitamin B 12 Vitamin B 12 Deficiency Vitamin B Complex Women Of Childbearing Age Young Adult

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• Source:
  J Nutr. 147(6):1183-1193
• Pubmed ID:
  28404832
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5548006
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  147
• Issue:
  6
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f606078187729d11436156d8763e9258201095fd5991b50d9dfa36c71a00433224091ab508337a37e29f7c33007da15f0477825ce137715a81381855892a2816
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/47449/cdc_47449_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.21 MB ]