Assessment of nutritional folate status and selected vitamin status of women of childbearing age

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate folate and other selected vitamin status (ascorbic acid, tocopherol, retinol, vitamin B-12), haematological indices and total homocysteine concentration of serum in women of childbearing age. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Warsaw. Subjects: Healthy women aged 18-30y (n = 78) not pregnant presently or previously, and not taking drugs. Results: Haemoglobin and haematocrit values according to WHO criteria for IS to 30-y-old women were normal. The optimal levels of serum tocopherol, > 1.29 mg/dl (> 29.9 mu mol/l) to preventing civilization diseases, were found in 5.5% and serum retinol > 71.6 mcg/dl (> 2.5 mu mol/l) in 6.4% of all studied persons. The analysis of serum folate concentration showed high-risk deficiency, < 3 ng/ml (< 6.8 mnol/l), in 6.4%, moderate and low risk together (7.0-14.9 nmol/l) in 61.6% and optimal folate levels (> 14.9 mnol/l) in 32.0% of the studied group. Folate body stores were insufficient in almost all women. There was no high or moderate deficiency risk of vitamin B12 or ascorbic acid. None of the women under study had serum total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration > 15 mu mol/l, indicating hyperhomocysteinaemia. Serum total homocysteine concentrations in the range of 5-15 mu mol/l were found in 71.8%, and serum tHcy > 10 mu mol/l in 7.7% of the studied group of women. Sponsorship: The study was sponsored by the Polish Committee for Scientific Research. Descriptors: folates serum and red blood cells; serum vitamin B12; antioxidant vitamins (ascorbic acid, tocopherol, retinol); total homocysteine; women of childbearing age.