Revised folate content of foods determined by stable isotope dilution assays

Stable isotope dilution assays were applied to quantify folates in several vegetables, orange juice, meat, liver, bread, and rice. The results were compared to data in the literature and in food data bases revealing significantly lower folate contents in broccoli and bread. Applying the new folate values to the Bavarian Food Intake Survey of 1995 resulted in a reduced daily intake of about 10 mug, which was caused primarily by the lower folate content in bread. However, the majority of foods contributing to folate intake still needs to be quantified by the new method to obtain accurate data on the estimated dietary intake to compare with the recommended daily intake. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.