scholarly journals Validation of a Semi-Quantitative Food-Frequency Questionnaire for Dutch Pregnant Women from the General Population Using the Method or Triads

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trudy Voortman ◽  
Régine P.M. Steegers-Theunissen ◽  
Nienke E. Bergen ◽  
Vincent W. V. Jaddoe ◽  
Caspar W. N. Looman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
General Population ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Food Frequency Questionnaire ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Food Frequency ◽  
Folate And Vitamin B12

Objective: We aimed to validate a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Dutch pregnant women, against three 24 h-recalls and blood concentrations of B-vitamins and fatty acids, using the method of triads. Methods: We included 83 pregnant women from the general population of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, at a median gestational age of 15.6 weeks. Participants completed three non-consecutive 24 h-recalls, and subsequently filled out the 293-item FFQ. Participants provided blood samples from which we analyzed serum folate and vitamin B12, as well as red blood cell folate, linoleic acid, and total saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Results: Estimated energy intake did not differ between the FFQ and 24 h-recalls. Deattenuated Pearson’s correlation coefficients, between energy-adjusted nutrient intake estimates from the FFQ and the 24 h-recalls, ranged from 0.41 (fat) to 0.88 (fiber) for macronutrients, and were around 0.6 for most micronutrients, except for vitamin E (0.27). Using the triad method, we obtained validity coefficients of 0.86 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.36, 1.00) for serum folate, 0.86 (95% CI 0.18, 1.00) for red blood cell folate, and 1.00 (95% CI 0.42, 1.00) for vitamin B12. Validity coefficients for serum fatty acids ranged from 0.22 to 0.67. Conclusion: This FFQ is a reliable tool for estimating intake of energy, macronutrients, folate and vitamin B12 among women in mid-pregnancy.

scholarly journals Is  food frequency questionnaire a valid tools to assess intake of folate and vitamin B12 in Azar cohort population?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sona Azimi ◽  
Elnaz Faramarzi ◽  
Parvin Sarbakhsh ◽  
Alireza Ostadrahimi
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Food Frequency Questionnaire ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Dietary Vitamin ◽  
P Value ◽  
Food Frequency ◽  
Dietary Folate ◽  
Folate And Vitamin B12 ◽  
Adjusted Model

Abstract Background: Repeated 24-hour recalls and diet diaries are the most dietary methods, which have been used as gold standards in food frequency questionnaire (FFQ ) validation studies. But associated random errors between the FFQ and these two dietary assessment methods can result in flawed estimates of validity. Therefore, evaluation biochemical indices have been considered as a reference method in validation studies.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the FFQ by comparing the estimated intakes of folate and vitamin B12 with corresponding biochemical markers. Methods: Participants were 95 healthy adults from Azar Cohort Study. We compared folate and vitamin B12 intakes of food frequency questionnaire with their concentrations in blood specimens. Serum folate and vitamin B12, and of red blood cell folate concentrations, were determined using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method respectively. Results: Spearman correlation coefficients between dietary folate and corresponding biomarkers (serum and RBC folate) concentrations were 0.04 (P-value = 0.65), 0.06 ( P-value = 0.52) respectively. There was no correlation between dietary vitamin B12 and serum concentrations of this vitamin, whether in crude or energy-adjusted model in the total population studied(r = - 0.134 , p = 0.19 in crude model and r = -0.137, p = 0.18 in energy-adjusted model ). According to the findings of this study, 64.51, 60.21 and 54.83 percent of studied population were in the same/adjacent quartiles of dietary folate-serum folate, dietary folate-red blood cell folate and dietary vitamin B12-serum vitamin B12 respectively.Conclusion: According to our results, it seems that this FFQ may not be a reliable tool to assess intakes of folate and vitamin B12. Therefore, further studies with large sample size are needed to achieve more clear results.

scholarly journals Intakes, Adequacy, and Biomarker Status of Iron, Folate, and Vitamin B12 in Māori and Non-Māori Octogenarians: Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand (LiLACS NZ)

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danika Pillay ◽  
Carol Wham ◽  
Simon Moyes ◽  
Marama Muru-Lanning ◽  
Ruth Teh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Serum Iron ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Advanced Age ◽  
Folate Intake ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Dietary Iron ◽  
Folate And Vitamin B12

Advanced-age adults may be at risk of iron, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiency due to low food intake and poor absorption. This study aimed to investigate the intake and adequacy of iron, folate, and vitamin B12 and their relationship with respective biomarker status. Face-to-face interviews with 216 Māori and 362 non-Māori included a detailed dietary assessment using 2 × 24-h multiple pass recalls. Serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, red blood cell folate, serum folate, serum vitamin B12 and hemoglobin were available at baseline. Regression techniques were used to estimate the association between dietary intake and biomarkers. The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) was met by most participants (>88%) for dietary iron and vitamin B12 (>74%) but less than half (>42%) for folate. Increased dietary folate intake was associated with increased red blood cell (RBC) folate for Māori (p = 0.001), non-Māori (p = 0.014) and serum folate for Māori (p < 0.001). Folate intake >215 µg/day was associated with reduced risk of deficiency in RBC folate for Māori (p = 0.001). Strategies are needed to optimize the intake and bioavailability of foods rich in folate. There were no significant associations between dietary iron and vitamin B12 intake and their respective biomarkers, serum iron and serum vitamin B12.

scholarly journals Estimating the Serum Folate Concentration Associated With the Red Blood Cell Folate Threshold for Optimal Neural Tube Defects Prevention: A Population Based Biomarker Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 644-644
Author(s):  
Amy Fothergill ◽  
Charles Rose ◽  
Krista Crider ◽  
Beena Bose ◽  
Heather Guetterman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cell ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽  
Population Based ◽  
World Health ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Total Vitamin ◽  
B12 Deficiency

Abstract Objectives To estimate the serum folate insufficiency threshold (sf-IT) corresponding to the red blood cell (RBC) folate insufficiency threshold for optimal neural tube defect (NTD) prevention. Methods Participants were 977 women of reproductive age (WRA; 15–40y; not pregnant or lactating) from a population-based biomarker survey in Southern India. Venous blood samples were collected at enrollment. Plasma, serum, and red blood cells were centrifuged, processed, and stored &lt; -80°C until batch analysis. Total vitamin B12 concentrations were measured via chemiluminescence; RBC and serum folate concentrations were measured using the World Health Organization-recommended microbiological assay. Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined as total vitamin B12 &lt; 148 pmol/L. Folate insufficiency was defined as RBC folate &lt; 748 nmol/L, the recommended calibrator-adjusted equivalent of the threshold for population optimal NTD prevention. A previously developed Bayesian model and the RBC and serum folate distributions in this population were used to estimate the sf-IT corresponding to the RBC folate insufficiency threshold for optimal NTD prevention, overall and by age, body mass index (BMI) category, HbA1c, anemia, and vitamin B12 status. Results The overall estimated median sf-IT was 37.8 nmol/L (95% credible interval [33.8–43.3]). This threshold was lower in overweight WRA (BMI: ≥25.0 kg/m2: 32.0 nmol/L [27.3–40.2] vs. BMI &lt; 25.0 kg/m2: 36.2 nmol/L [32.2–43.3]), and varied by age (&lt; 25y: 61.3 nmol/L [44.3–111.8]; 25 to 35y: 35.7 nmol/L [30.8–43.5]; ≥35y: 30.8 nmol/L [26.9–37.2]). The sf-IT was lower in anemic WRA (32.9 nmol/L [28.5–40.1]) compared to non-anemic WRA (42.0 nmol/L [36.1–51.3]), and lower in WRA with elevated HbA1c (≥5.7% to &lt; 6.5: 32.4 nmol/L [27.3–41.6]; ≥6.5%: 20.9 nmol/L [17.8–25.6]) vs. WRA with HbA1c &lt; 5.7% (43.8 nmol/L, [37.5–53.7]). The median sf-IT was higher in WRA with vitamin B12 deficiency (72.1 nmol/L [52.0–126.0]), compared to women who were not vitamin B12 deficient (28.1 nmol/L [25.6–31.5]). Conclusions The estimated sf-IT is dependent on anemia, elevated HbA1c, BMI, age, and vitamin B12 status. Funding Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; AF was supported by the National Institutes of Health #5 T32 HD087137.

scholarly journals Is natural (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid as effective as synthetic folic acid in increasing serum and red blood cell folate concentrations during pregnancy? A proof-of-concept pilot study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey M Cochrane ◽  
Chantal Mayer ◽  
Angela M Devlin ◽  
Rajavel Elango ◽  
Jennifer A Hutcheon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Intestine ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Neural Tube Closure ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Natural Form

Abstract Background: Health Canada recommends 0.4 mg/day folic acid before conception and throughout pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate that must be reduced by dihydrofolate reductase and then further metabolized in the small intestine. Recent evidence suggests that the maximal capacity for this process is limited and unmetabolized folic acid has been detected in circulation. The biological effects of unmetabolized folic acid are not fully understood. A natural form of folate, (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (Metafolin®), may be a superior alternative because it does not need to be reduced in the small intestine. Metafolin® is currently used in some prenatal multivitamins, however it has yet to be evaluated during pregnancy. Methods: This double-blind randomized trial will recruit 60 pregnant women aged 19-42 years. Women will receive either 0.6 mg/day folic acid or an equimolar dose (0.625 mg/day) of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid for 16-weeks. The trial will be initiated at 8-21 weeks gestation (after neural tube closure) to reduce the risk of harm should (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid prove less effective. All women will also receive a prenatal multivitamin (not containing folate) to ensure adequacy of other nutrients. Baseline and endline blood samples will be collected to assess primary outcome measures, including serum folate, red blood cell folate and unmetabolized folic acid. Change in primary outcomes from baseline to endline in each group will be calculated using a paired-t-test. Discussion: This proof-of-concept trial is needed to obtain estimates of the effect of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid compared to folic acid on circulating biomarkers of folate status during pregnancy. These estimates will inform the design of a definitive trial which will be powered to assess whether (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid is as effective as folic acid in raising blood folate concentrations during pregnancy. Ultimately, these findings will inform folate supplementation policies for pregnant women.

scholarly journals Folate and vitamin B12 status: associations with maternal glucose and neonatal DNA methylation sites related to dysglycaemia, in pregnant women with obesity

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Wenneke van Weelden ◽  
Paul T. Seed ◽  
Elie Antoun ◽  
Keith M. Godfrey ◽  
Negusse T. Kitaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Tolerance Test ◽  
Differential Methylation ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Oral Glucose ◽  
Glucose Homoeostasis ◽  
Folate And Vitamin B12 ◽  
Maternal Glucose

Abstract Recent studies implicate maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in differential methylation of infant DNA. Folate and vitamin B12 play a role in DNA methylation, and these vitamins may also influence GDM risk. The aims of this study were to determine folate and vitamin B12 status in obese pregnant women and investigate associations between folate and vitamin B12 status, maternal dysglycaemia and neonatal DNA methylation at cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites previously observed to be associated with dysglycaemia. Obese pregnant women who participated in the UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial were included. Serum folate and vitamin B12 were measured at the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) visit. Cord blood DNA methylation was assessed using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Regression models with adjustment for confounders were used to examine associations. Of the 951 women included, 356 (37.4%) were vitamin B12 deficient, and 44 (4.6%) were folate deficient. Two-hundred and seventy-one women (28%) developed GDM. Folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were not associated with neonatal DNA methylation. Higher folate was positively associated with 1-h plasma glucose after OGTT (β = 0.031, 95% CI 0.001–0.061, p = 0.045). There was no relationship between vitamin B12 and glucose concentrations post OGTT or between folate or vitamin B12 and GDM. In summary, we found no evidence to link folate and vitamin B12 status with the differential methylation of neonatal DNA previously observed in association with dysglycaemia. We add to the evidence that folate status may be related to maternal glucose homoeostasis although replication in other maternal cohorts is required for validation.

scholarly journals Is natural (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid as effective as synthetic folic acid in increasing serum and red blood cell folate concentrations during pregnancy? A proof-of-concept pilot study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey M Cochrane ◽  
Chantal Mayer ◽  
Angela M Devlin ◽  
Rajavel Elango ◽  
Jennifer A Hutcheon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Neural Tube ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Neural Tube Closure ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Natural Form

Abstract Background: North American health authorities recommend 0.4 mg/day folic acid before conception and throughout pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate that must be reduced by dihydrofolate reductase and then further metabolized. Recent evidence suggests that the maximal capacity for this process is limited and unmetabolized folic acid has been detected in circulation. The biological effects of unmetabolized folic acid are unknown. A natural form of folate, (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (Metafolin®), may be a superior alternative because it does not need to be reduced in the small intestine. Metafolin® is currently used in some prenatal multivitamins, however it has yet to be evaluated during pregnancy. Methods: This double-blind randomized trial will recruit 60 pregnant women aged 19-42 years. Women will receive either 0.6 mg/day folic acid or an equimolar dose (0.625 mg/day) of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid for 16-weeks. The trial will be initiated at 8-21 weeks gestation (after neural tube closure) to reduce the risk of harm should (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid prove less effective. All women will also receive a prenatal multivitamin (not containing folate) to ensure adequacy of other nutrients. Baseline and endline blood samples will be collected to assess primary outcome measures, including serum folate, red blood cell folate and unmetabolized folic acid. The extent to which the change in primary outcomes from baseline to endline differs between treatment groups, controlling for baseline level, will be estimated using linear regression. Participants will have the option to continue supplementing until 1-week postpartum to provide a breastmilk and blood sample. Exploratory analyses will be completed to evaluate breastmilk and postpartum blood folate concentrations. Discussion: This proof-of-concept trial is needed to obtain estimates of the effect of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid compared to folic acid on circulating biomarkers of folate status during pregnancy. These estimates will inform the design of a definitive trial which will be powered to assess whether (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid is as effective as folic acid in raising blood folate concentrations during pregnancy. Ultimately, these findings will inform folate supplementation policies for pregnant women.

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