• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.4
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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.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.840-847
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• 2000

This study was out to evaluate the folate nutritional status of Korean pregnant women and to investigate the relationship between serum folate levels of maternal-umbilical cord blood and pregnancy outcomes. Folate intakes of the pregnants was estimated by dietary folate intakes obtained from semiquantitative frequency questionnaire and supplementary folate intakes. The serum folate levels in both maternal blood and umbilical cord of 29 pregnant women at delivery and 13 nonpregnant controls were measured by redioimmunoassay. The total folate intakes(dietary and supplementary)of the pregnant women was 465. 4$\mu\textrm{g}$/d which was 93% of the Korean RDA for folate. Maternal mean serum folate levels of the pregnants was 6.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, significantly lower than that of nonpregnant women(8.9ng/ml). Mean serumfolate level of umbilical cord blood was 14.2ng/ml, which was 2.3 folds higher than that of maternal blood. This finding indicates that the uptake of folate in the fetus may be due to an active placental transport mechanism. Maternal serum folate level correlated positively with that of umbilical cord blood, showing that folate concentration of umbilical cord blood is affected by maternal status. There was no significant correlation between the serum folate levels in maternal-umbilical cord blood and the pregnancy outcomes.(Korean J Nutrition 33(8) : 840-847, 2000)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 1996

This study was carried out to determine the folate status of adolescent girls. Serum and red blood cell(RBC) folate levels of 132 Korean adolescent girls aged 12 to 15 years were evaluated by micorbioligical assay using Lactobacillus casei(ATCC 7469). Serum folate concentrations were less than 3ng/ml in 4.5% and 3 to 4.9ng/ml in 42.4%. Of the RBC folate values, 4.5% were less than 120ng/ml and 40.2% were 120 to 159ng/ml. These findings demonstrated that serum folate levels were subnormal in 46.9% and RBC folate levels were subnormal in 44.7% of the adolescent girls. Serum and RBC folate concentration tend to be high in folate supplemented subjects. There was no significant difference in serum and RBC folate levels, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values between regular meal group and irregular meal group.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the folate nutritional status of Korean pregnant women and to investigate the relation between folate levels of maternal-umbilical cord blood, placenta tissue, and pregnancy outcomes. The study subjects consisted of 25 pregnant women who have had normal term deliveries. Dietary folate intakes of the pregnants were estimated by semi quantitative frequency questionnaire and the serum and placenta tissue folate level was measured by microbiological analysis. The total folate intakes of the pregnant women was 655.6 ${\mu}$g/d, which was 131.1% of the Korean RDA for pregnants. Maternal serum folate level was 16.18ng/ml, which was significantly lower than that of umbilical cord blood (34.98ng/ml, p<0.05). Mean folate concentration of the placental tissue was 998.0ng/ml, which was the highest compared to maternal and umbilical cord serum level. Umbilical cord serum folate level and placental tissue folate level were highly influenced by maternal serum folate level. The umbilical cord folate levels of the infant group whose birth weight was higher than 3500g were significantly higher than the group whose birth weight was less than 3500g (p<0.05). The placental folate level was significantly higher in maternal group who showed desirable weight gain during pregnancy (11 - 14kg). In conclusion, the birth weigt was related to the umbilical cord folate level and the maternal weight gain was affected by the placental folate level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.592-597
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• 1999

The purpose of this study were to determine the folate status of pregnant women living in kwangju, Korea and to assess the relationships between folate status and pregnancy outcome. Eighty-one women took part in the study: 26 in their first trimester of pregnancy, 23 in the second, and 32 in the final trimester. The folate intake data both from their diets and supplementasage was obtained using a 24-hour recall method and by measuring the use of supplements. Folate levels of serum and erythrocytes were determined by a microbiological assay using Lactovacillus casei(ATTC 7469) as the test organism. A series of determinations for pregnancy outcome was conducted, including birth weight, length, Apgar score at 5 min after birth, and gestational period. The dietary folate intake in each trimester was 118$\pm$85, 148$\pm$117, and 137$\pm$69ug/d, respectively. All levels were far below the Korean recommended diet allowances(RDA)for folate. Eighty-four percent of the subjects consumed supplemental folate after the 20th week of pregnancy until delivery. the supplemental folate intakes in the second and third trimester were 651$\pm$142 and 688$\pm$150ug/d, respectively. Therefore, the women who took folate supplements consumed more folate than the RDA. Serum folate levels for each trimester were 9.0$\pm$3.8, 11.4$\pm$6.0, and 16.3$\pm$11.0ng/ml respectively, greadually increasing as the pregnancy progressed; the serum folate level in the third trimester was significantly higher(p<0.05) than that in first trimester. The erythrocyte folate concentrations in each trimester were recorded as 369.8$\pm$108.8, 396.2$\pm$107.5, and 420$\pm$7 162.6ng/ml respectively. There was no significant differences among the erythrocyte folate concentrations unlike the serum folate levels. There was no significant difference among the erythrocyte folate concentrations unlike the serum folate levels. There was no signifcant correlation between trimester to be important in maintaining adequate folate status, however these results imply that the serum and erythrocyte folate levels were adequate to support the growth of the fetus.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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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.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 1993

Folate and iron nutrition was studied in a total of 122 pregnant, lactaging, and non-pregant, non-lactating Korean women, Serum folate levels were determined microbiologically using Lactobacillus casei(ATCC 7469), and serum iron levels was analyzed colormetrically. The average folate values of pregnant and lactating women were 5.42ng/ml and 4.14ng/ml, which were significantly lower than that of the non-pregnant, non-lactating women(7.06ng/ml). More than 1/3 of the total subjects were found to have serum folate levels lower than 3ng/ml, at which folate nutrition status can be considered inadequate. Serum iron values of pregnant(96.9ug/dl)and lactating women(93.9ug/dl) were not significantly different from that of the non-pregnant, non-lactating women (97.1ug/dl). There were however, more iron-deficient subjects in the pregnant gorup(17%) and the lactating group(19%) than in the non-pregnant, non-lactating group (8%). A statistically significant positive correlation was shown between the levels of serum folate and iron in lactating women(r=.9694, p<0.05). The results of our study document that folate deficiency is a nutritional problem as prevalent as iron deficiency in Korean women, especially during pregnancy and lactation. For these women a routine folate and iron supplementation might be necessary.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the interactions between maternal folate deficiency and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism increase the risk of elevated maternal serum homocysteine, short gestation and reduced infant birthweight. Healthy pregnant (n = 170; 24-28 gestational weeks; 20-40 years old) women were analyzed for the MTHFR genotype and serum levels of folate and homocysteine, and were then followed for gestational age and infant birthweight. The mean infant birthweight was highest in mothers carrying MTHFR CC and with a normal folate range, and they were followed by mothers carrying MTHFR CT or TT and a normal range of folate or a folate deficiency. Birthweight was the lowest in mothers whose carrying MTHFR CC with folate deficiency. Using two way ANOVA, we found that folate level and the MTHFR polymorphism interacted to affect birth-weight of infants (p=0.05). Among those mothers carrying MTHFR CC, those with folate deficiency showed a 543 g reduction in infant birthweight compared with those with normal folate levels. However, infant birthweight was no different for mothers, those who with folate deficiency compared to those with normal range of folate among mothers carrying the MTHFR CT or TT genotypes. This study suggests an interaction between maternal serum folate and the MTHFR polymorphisms of the mother on the risk of delivering reduced birthweight offspring. Folate supplementation of folate deficient pregnant women with the MTHFR wild type is suggested to reduce the risk of low birthweight.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1045-1052
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• 2002

Hyperhomocysteinemia, resulted from an interaction between the mutation of MTHFR gene and B vitamin deficiency, is suggested as a possible cause for complications and adverse outcomes of pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the intakes of B vitamins and serum homocysteine concentrations with the C677T mutation in the MTHFR genotypes in 135 normal pregnant women of 24-28 weeks of gestation. Dietary intake of B vitamins did not differ among the three genotypes, but the negative correlation between dietary folate intake and the serum homocysteine level was the strongest in the T/T type (r ＝ -0.249) than in other genotypes (C/T: r＝ -0.040, C/C:r＝ 0.126, p＜0.05). Among the subject with the T/T type, the pregnant women who consumed folate less than 50% of the RDA had higher serum homocysteine levels than those who consumed folate greater than 125% of the RDA (10.4$\pm$5.9 vs 7.0$\pm$1.5 $\mu$mol/L, p＜0.05). Serum homocysteine levels were higher in the women with micronutrient supplements than those with no supplements in the T/T type, but such relation was not present in the C/C or the C/T type. In conclusion, serum homocysteine concentrations were influenced by the interrelationship between the MTHFR polymorphisms and dietary folate intake or micronutrient supplementation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.4
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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.