Bioavailability of food folates is 80% of that of folic acid - PubMed (original) (raw)
Randomized Controlled Trial
doi: 10.1093/ajcn/85.2.465.
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- PMID: 17284745
- DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/85.2.465
Free article
Randomized Controlled Trial
Bioavailability of food folates is 80% of that of folic acid
Renate M Winkels et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Feb.
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Abstract
Background: The bioavailability of natural food folates is lower than that of synthetic folic acid, but no agreement exists as to the extent of the difference.
Objective: In a 4-wk dietary intervention study, we determined the aggregate bioavailability of food folates from fruit, vegetables, and liver relative to that of folic acid.
Design: Seventy-two healthy adults were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups. Group A (n = 29) received a high-folate diet with 369 mug food folate/d and a placebo capsule; groups B, C, and D (n = 14 or 15) received a low-folate diet with 73 microg food folate/d and folic acid capsules. These capsules contained 92 microg folic acid/d for group B, 191 microg for group C, and 289 microg for group D. In addition, all 72 subjects daily ingested a capsule with 58 microg [(13)C(11)]-labeled folic acid. We measured the percentage of [(13)C(11)]-labeled folate in plasma folate at the end of the intervention and ascertained the changes in serum folate concentrations over the 4 wk of the intervention.
Results: Bioavailability of food folate relative to that of folic acid was 78% (95% CI: 48%, 108%) according to [(13)C(11)]-labeled folate and 85% (52%, 118%) according to changes in serum folate concentrations.
Conclusions: The aggregate bioavailability of folates from fruit, vegetables, and liver is approximately 80% of that of folic acid. The consumption of a diet rich in food folate can improve the folate status of a population more efficiently than is generally assumed.
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