A narrative review investigating the benefits and risks of high-dose folic acid for women with pre-existing diabetes in periconception concludes doses of 4mg folate a day or 5mg every second day are warranted, taking individualised needs into consideration.
Dietary intake and blood levels of folate, and vitamins B6 and B12 were inversely associated with MetS risk in young American adults, says a new study from Texas State University.
Further work needs to be done to raise awareness of the need for women with obesity to supplement both with a higher dose of folic acid and vitamin D, and to be aware of the role of iodine, researchers say.
Policymakers need to review the current methods of ensuring folate sufficiency among women of childbearing age, said a group of Australian researchers who found that food and supplements could not provide optimal folate intake.
Researchers are recommending a multi-micronutrient supplementation beyond iron and folate for women of reproductive age, pregnant and lactating, according to an Asian study funded by Bayer South East Asia.
A high prevalence of folate inadequacy in Swiss women suggests an elevated risk of neural tube defects and calls for urgent measures to increase folate intakes, according to a new survey report.
A majority of poor women in urban areas are still at risk of folic acid and folate deficiency, even with government-sanctioned mandatory fortifications, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
Researchers in Singapore say insufficient vitamin B12 coupled with higher folate may lead to higher gestational diabetes risk, holding "potential implications for antenatal supplement recommendations".
People who consume a lot of folate, or take large doses of folic
acid in supplement form, may have a faster rate of mental decline
when older, say researchers on a large population study.
Women who drink regularly may need to increase their folate intake
to prevent a raised risk of chronic disease, report researchers in
a new study, examining the impact of alcohol on women with low
folate levels.
