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MOST AMERICANS ARENÃT GETTING THE MESSAGE ABOUT FOLIC ACID - New Study Confirms Consumption Needs to Go Beyond Fortification -
MADISON, NJ -- April 1, 1997 -- Despite efforts by government agencies and public education initiatives to raise awareness about folic acid and its role in helping to prevent certain birth defects, a national survey of American adults finds that 62% of men and women -- and 58% of women of childbearing age (18-39) -- have never seen, read nor heard about this important B-vitamin. The CentrumÆ Center for Nutrition Science (CCNS) Folic Acid Awareness Survey also finds that 3 out of 4 Americans cannot name a single dietary source of folic acid.
The survey is in keeping with a recent study on folic acid published in the February 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). These findings suggest that folic acid intake among women of childbearing age -- to help prevent neural tube defects -- needs to go beyond diet and food fortification of refined cereal and grain products. Even with the forthcoming fortification levels that food manufacturers must comply with by 1998, the researchers found that although fortification will increase folic acid intake, it still will not provide optimal prevention levels. Furthermore, the study indicates that folic acid in the form of a supplement may help to fill these folate gaps.
Results of the JAMA study show that the red cell folate levels necessary to achieve optimal prevention of neural tube birth defects were primarily found in women who took folic acid supplements. The researchers concluded that the addition of a folic acid supplement, to the usual diet, would result in optimal levels in the majority of women in the study.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes that women who consume adequate amounts of folic acid as part of a healthful diet during their childbearing years, may reduce the risk of having a baby with birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. This is one of only two health claims allowed for dietary supplements by the FDA.
ìFor so many people to be unaware of the importance of a nutrient with established benefits is disturbing. It reaffirms the need to increase efforts to educate Americans about the importance of nutrition and folic acid in particular,î said Paul Lachance, Ph.D., Chair, Food Science Department, Rutgers University and CCNS Advisory Board member. ìHowever, education alone is not enough -- we must also provide guidance to help ensure that people are getting adequate amounts of nutrients such as folic acid on a daily basis.î
Adequate amounts of folic acid can be obtained by eating a wide variety of foods including liver, dark-green leafy vegetables, beans, citrus juices and whole wheat bread. However, the National Center for Health Statistics has found that the average American adult only consumes approximately 65% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)* of folic acid on any given day.
Despite this dietary challenge, people can find the solution through taking a complete and balanced multivitamin supplement. This easy and safe solution assures that 100% of the RDI of folic acid is received.
ìThe use of folic acid to prevent neural tube birth defects is our greatest prevention opportunity,î said Roger Stevenson, MD, director of research at the Greenwood Genetics Center in Greenwood, South Carolina. ìThe recent JAMA study confirms that supplementation is an effective way to achieve folic acid levels necessary to lower the risk of these serious (neural tube) birth defects.î
The CCNS Survey was a random telephone survey of 1,005 adults in the Continental US, age 18 and over. The sampling margin of error is +/- 3%.
The CentrumÆ Center for Nutrition Science (CCNS) is an information service dedicated to improving the nutritional health of Americans by disseminating the latest nutrition information to consumers, health professionals, advocacy groups, government agencies and the media. The CCNS is governed by a board of advisors comprised of nationally respected physicians, scientists and academicians. The CCNS is supported by an education grant from Lederle Consumer Health, although the members of the advisory board are neither employed by nor affiliated with Lederle. # # #
* The RDI of folic acid is 400 micrograms (mcg) per day
See folic1.bm for additional background information on folic acid.
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