• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.585-591
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• 1999

The purpose of the present study was to measure the dietary folate intake of Korean women of childbearing age. Folate intake obtained from 24-hour recall method and food frequency questionnaire was assessed in two hundred and ninety-three nonpregnant and non-lactating healthy women of childbearing age. The mean folate intake of women aged 20-29 was 112.8ug/day, 49.3% of their recommended level of 250ug/day. Folate intake of women aged 30-49 was 129.0ug/day, significantly higher than that of participants aged 20-29. A quartile analysis on the folate intake revealed that there significant differences in the consumption of dark green, leafy vegetables (p<0.01), other vegetables (p<0.01), and fruits and legumes(p<0.05) between the highest of childbearing age is far from adequate. To reach of the present study show that the folate intake of Korean women of childbearing age is far from adequate. To reach the recommended intake level of 250ug/day for women of childbearing age, folate supplementation and special nutrition education promoting folate intake might be necessary.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.512-520
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• 1999

Microbiological method using a 96-well microplate reader for folate assay was established, and folate intake and blood folate concentrations of 23 female college students were assessed. To evaluate folate intake, dietary data were collected by a 3-day weight food record, and serum and RBC folate concentrations were measured by the new method. The coefficient of variation for the new method was less than 10%. Mean daily folate intake of the subjects was 126.7${\mu}g$ which is only 50.7% of the RDA. The mean concentrations of serum and RBC folate were 7.46ng/ml and 294.4ng/ml, respectively, which were within the normal range. These results indicate that folate intake seems to be underestimated due to incomplete food composition database. Therefore, folate database should be appropriately in order to asses folate intake accurately.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.433-442
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• 1993

Dietary folate intake and serum folate levels were measured in 26 pregnant, 25 lactating, and 17 non-pregnant, non-lactating women. Dietary folate comsumption was estimated by calculating folate intake based on the information obtained from food frequency quesionnaires and serum folate levels were determined microbiologically using Lactobacillus casei. The total folate (from food and supplements) intakes of pregnant and lactating women were 326.9ug and 407.9ug, which was significantly higher than that of the non-pregnant, non-lactating women(139.5ug). However, with regard to food folate intake, there were no differences among the three groups (160ug for pregnant women, 143.4ug for lactating women). Forty-two percent and 36% of the pregnant and lactating subjects, respectively, were found to be taking commercially available nutritional supplements containing folate. The concentrations of folate in these supplements were in the range of 83ug~1, 000ug per tablet. For lactating women, serum folate levels were significantly higher when folate supplements were voluntarily used. The amount of folate intake was positively correlated with the serum folate levels in pregnant women, but not in lactaing women and non-pregnant, non-lactating women. Serum folate levels were negatively correlated with the ages of the pregnant women, and for lactating women, serum folate was positively correlated with their body weights.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.2323-2328
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• 2014

Background: Epidemiological findings are controversial relating to the relationship between dietary folate intake and the risk of breast cancer. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to clarify this association. Materials and Methods: PUBMED, EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases were searched for all relevant literature published in English from January 1, 1966 to August 2013. Summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a fixed or random effects model. Results: Dietary folate intake was not significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer. The combined RR with 95%CI for the highest vs. lowest category dietary intake of folate [fifteen studies; 1,836,566 participants and 24,083 patients with breast cancer] was 0.98 (0.90-1.05). Among subgroup analysis by menstrual status, hormonal status and the consumption of alcohol, methionine and vitamin B12, no significant association was observed for the dietary intake of folate and the risk of breast cancer. Dose-response analysis showed that a 220 ${\mu}g/day$ increment in dietary folate intake was not associated with the risk of breast cancer. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that dietary folate intake has no significant effect on the risk of breast cancer.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.216-223
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to assess folate intake, and serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations, and investigate the association between folate status and health-related behaviors among Korean college students. A total of 169 students, aged between 18 and 27 years, participated in this study. Dietary intake data were collected by trained interviewers using a 24-hour recall method for three non-consecutive days in 2009. Information on health-related behaviors was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. Serum and RBC folate concentrations were measured by microbiological assay. The average intakes of folate were $456{\mu}gDFE$ and $347{\mu}gDFE$ in male and female students, respectively. While the average serum folate concentration was significantly lower in male students (8.9 ng/mL) compared to female students (12.5 ng/mL), RBC concentrations were not significantly different between male (398.6 ng/mL) and female students (405.3 ng/mL). In male students, low serum folate concentrations were associated with total folate intake less than the Estimated Average Requirement, non-use of folic acid supplements, smoking, alcohol drinking at least once a week and low physical activity. In female students, low serum folate concentrations were associated with smoking and alcohol drinking at least two drinks at a time and BMI ${\geq}25$. Alcohol drinking and low physical activity were also associated with low RBC folate concentrations in both male and female students. In order to improve folate nutritional status of college students, the practice of desirable health-related behaviors, such as non-smoking, moderate alcohol drinking, regular physical activity, and maintenance of healthy BMI should be encouraged along with consumption of folate-rich foods and supplements.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.156-166
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the simple semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing folate intake in women of reproductive age. We developed a 30-item FFQ, and tested the reliability and validity in 97 women aged between 20 and 39 yrs using the FFQs and 24-h recalls, which were carried out twice, respectively. Assessing the reliability, the correlation coefficients were 0.53 (Spearman's) and 0.49 (Pearson's) for folate. There was no significant difference of folate intake between FFQ1 and FFQ2. 36.1% subjects were classified into the same quartile and 83.5% into the same or adjacent quartile divided by folate intake. On determining the validity, the mean folate intake obtained from the FFQ (FFQ1) and 24h-recalls (2-d) were $306.6{\pm}167.2{\mu}g/d$ and $326.9{\pm}103.3{\mu}g/d$, respectively. There was no significant difference between folate intakes from the two methods. The correlation coefficients for folate were 0.24 (Spearman's) and 0.26 (Pearson's). 39.2% of the subjects were categorized into the same quartile and 70.1% were into the same or adjacent quartile. In addition, sensitivity (64.3%) and specificity (62.3%) were estimated to evaluate the adequacy of folate intake. These results suggest that this FFQ would be a useful and a valuable instrument to assess the intake of folate among the Korean women of child-bearing age.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.152-158
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• 2001

In this study, we determined major foods and food groups which contributed to the intake of folate in korean child-bearing women. Folate content of the major foods was also analyzed. A total of 91 healthy women with childbearing potential participated. They were divided into one of three groups by age; A (15∼24 yrs), B(25∼34 yrs) and C (35∼49 yrs). Food consumption data of the subjects were obtained by the 24-hr recall method. The rate of contribution of each food to the total intake of dietary folate was determined. Seventy major foods for folate were selected from the 178 foods they consumed. Two sets of the 70 foods were collected from different markets. After extracting folates from the foods by heating with a HEPES-CHES buffer, the samples were treated with α-amylase, protease and folate intakes was Korean cabbage kimchi followed by laver, soybean sprout, rice, yolmu kimchi, eggs, lettuce, perilla leaves, sea mustard and radish root. Food items that contributed to folate intake were slightly different among the age groups. Although the folate content of Korean cabbage kimchi was 51.6 ㎍/100g, but due to the high amount of intake, it was ranked the first major food prviding folate. High folate foods containing over 100㎍/100g were laver, corn flakes, spinach, mungbean, sesame, quail's eggs, small radish kimchi, kidney beans, leeks and peanuts. However, based on the serving size, spinach, corn flakes, leeks, sweet potato, pepper leaves, quail's eggs, crown daisy, small radish kimchi and perilla leaves contributed above 50㎍ of folate per serving size.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.296-303
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• 2000

We examined the folate intakes and assessed folate nutritional status of Korean women with childbearing potential. A total of 91 healthy women aged between 15 and 49 participated. They were divided into three groups by their age : A(15-24 yrs), B(25-34 yrs) and C(35-49 yrs). Folate intakes were determined by direct analysis. The foods consumed for 24 hours were collected proportionally and assessed folate. Their blood drawn in fasting state were analyzed folate levels. Folate contents of food homogenate, plasma and erythrocyte were determined a microbiological method using Lactobacillus. casei (ATCC 7469). Prior to the micro-assay, the food homogenate were treated with alpha-amylase, protease and folate conjugase. Mean daily folate intake of the total subjects was 145.8$\mu\textrm{g}$/d and in each group of A, B, and C was 114.0$\mu\textrm{g}$/d, 141.6$\mu\textrm{g}$/d, and 164.6$\mu\textrm{g}$/d, respectively. That of group C was significantly higher than that of group A(p<0.05). However, those of all the groups were lower than compared to the Korean Recommened Dietary Allowances(RDA) for folate. Especially the subjects in the group A consumed folate least that was below the half of the Korean RDA. The mean energy intake of all subjects was 1638㎉/d and those in each group of A, B, and C did not meet the Korean RDA for energy. The energy intake were significantly correlated with folate intakes(r=0.5050, p<0.001). Mean plasma and erythrocyte folate concentrations of total subjects were 6.9ng/mL and 266.3ng/mL, respectively. None were found to be deficient both in plasma(<3ng/mL)and erythrocyte (<140ng/mL) folate levels. There was only one subject who had red blood cell folate level below 157ng/mL concentration. These results show that folate status of the Korean women of reproductive age is not much bad. But it should be better that letting them improve their folate status by increasing energy intake, choosing high folate foods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.94-104
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• 2015

본 연구에서는 엽산의 급원식품으로 보고된 식품 51종의 엽산을 분석하고, 값에 차이가 많이 있는 경우 엽산 데이터베이스를 수정하여, 수정한 데이터베이스로 어린이와 청소년의 엽산 섭취량을 추산하고 급원식품을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상자는 대전, 충청도 및 전라도에 거주하는 만 20세 미만 567명으로 비연속 2일 동안의 24시간 회상법에 의해 식품섭취조사를 실시하였다. 51종의 식품을 새롭게 분석하여 현재의 데이터베이스와 비교한 결과 현재 값의 18.7%~322.9%의 결과를 얻었다. 기존의 값이 실험한 두 값 사이에 있거나, 기존값과의 차이가 10% 미만인 경우에는 수정하지 않았으며, 그 외에 차이가 있는 40종은 새로운 분석값으로 수정하였다. 수정한 데이터베이스로 대상자들의 엽산 평균섭취량을 성별, 연령별로 나누어 계산한 결과 모든 연령층에서 평균 엽산 섭취량이 권장섭취량보다 높았으나 12~14세 남자와 12~19세 여자의 평균 엽산 섭취량은 권장섭취량보다 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 계란, 배추김치, 쌀, 귤은 모든 연령층에서 엽산 급원식품의 10위 안에 포함되었다. 본 연구에서는 일부 급원식품 51종만을 분석하였으나 한국인들이 자주 먹는 식품의 조리 후 엽산 함량을 분석하여 보완해 나감으로써 더 정확한 엽산 섭취량을 추산할 수 있도록 해야 할 것이다. 또한 12~19세 여자의 평균 엽산 섭취량이 다른 연령층에 비해 상대적으로 낮게 나타난 것을 볼 수 있었는데, 엽산은 성장기 및 가임여성에게 특히 중요한 비타민으로써 이들을 위한 엽산 영양교육이 이루어져야 할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.271-278
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• 1998

Folate coenzymes are involved in one-carbon transfer reactions needed for the synthesis of nucleic acids, amino acids, and proteins which are very important for cell proliferation and differentiation. To investigate the effects of dietary folate content on plasma and tissue folate concentrations and on folate excretions in urine and feces, male Sprague-Dawley rats were raised for 4-10 weeks on semi-purified experimental diets containing 0mg, 2 mg, 8mg folate/kg diet. Folate concentrations were determined microbiologically using Lactobacillius casei (ATCC 7469). When compared to the folate adequate diet, the folate deficient diet decreased folate levels in plasma, liver and kidney , and the values were further decreased with experimental period. In rats reviving folate supplemented diets, plasma , liver and kidney folate adequate or supplemented diets, folate concentrations weer increased compared to animals on the folate adequate diet. In the folate adequate or supplemented diets, folate concentrations in the plasma and kidney were maintained at essentially the same level for 10 weeks . Folate concentrations in the liver, however, continued to increase with experimental period. Dietary folate intake seems to influence plasma and liver folate concentrations more than kidney folate concentrations. Folate excretions unrine and feces were significantly increased with dietary foalte intakes and experimental period. Folate excreted via urine was consideerably greater than that via feces. These resutls indicated that the foate supplemented diet improved plasma and tissue foalte status. Whether folate supplmentation improves foalte-dependent reactions remains to be researched.