Factors that affect folate intake in Oklahoma women of childbearing age and the effect of an intervention

Scope and method of study. The purpose of the first study was to determine the factors that influenced food choices of young women and their relation with folate intake. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 2,000 women (18–44 years old) in Oklahoma. The purpose of the second study was to assess the effectiveness of targeted nutrition education and diet changes in improving folate intake, serum and RBC folate, and plasma homocysteine in young women. The study was a two phase pre/post test experimental design with random assignment to the comparison and intervention groups. Participants in study 2 could not consume cereal or take multivitamins regularly. Food Processor Program version 7.8 and DIETSYS software were used to analyze the food data. Statistical analysis included Principal Component Analysis, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, t-tests and ANOVA.; Findings and conclusions. Results of the first study showed that women's ratings of the familiarity and convenience of foods, self-efficacy and importance of buying fruits, vegetables and grains were significant predictors of estimated folate intake. Women who lived with others had greater concern about the foods they ate. Women felt they did not consume enough fruits and vegetables, and were willing to cat more; however, they felt they consumed enough grains. Results of the second study showed that folate intake estimated by the food records at week 9 tended to be higher than baseline estimates. Estimated folate intake by the 24hour recall and serum folate at week 16 were significantly higher than baseline estimates. RBC folate at week 16 was significantly higher than baseline. Homocysteine was significantly lower at baseline and week 16 than week 9. Targeted nutrition education and cereal consumption improved folate status in childbearing age women. Therefore, promotion of regular consumption of superfortified ready-to-eat cereals may be an effective strategy to improve folate intake in this population.