Dietary sources and intakes of folates and vitamin B-12 in the Spanishpopulation: Findings from the ANIBES study

Abstract

Background\r\nFolates and vitamin B-12 are key nutrients in one- carbon metabolism and\r\nrelated diseases. Updated and plausible information on population\r\nintakes and their major dietary sources is scarce and urgently needed in\r\nSpain in order to increase the knowledge that can lead as previous step\r\nto prevention by fortification and supplementation policies.\r\nAims\r\nThe present study aims to evaluate main dietary folate and vitamin B-12\r\nsources and intakes in the Spanish population.\r\nMaterials and methods\r\nResults were derived from the ANIBES cross- sectional study using a\r\nnationally representative sample of the Spanish population (9 +/- 75\r\nyears, n = 2,009).\r\nResults\r\nFood groups with the highest mean proportional contribution to total\r\nfolate intakes in both males and females were vegetables (21.7 +/-\r\n24.9\\%) and cereals (10.7 +/- 11.2\\%), while meat and meat products\r\n(26.4\\%) and milk and dairy products (27.3\\%) were for B-12. Total\r\nmedian folate and B-12 intakes amongst women were 156.3 mu g/d and 4.0\r\nmu g/d while for men were 163.6 mu g/d and 4.5 mu g/d, respectively. In\r\nall age groups, vitamin intakes were significantly higher in plausible\r\nthan in non- plausible energy reporters.\r\nConclusion\r\nA limited number of participants had adequate folate intakes, whereas\r\nvitamin B-12 intakes were adequate for practically the entire\r\npopulation. There is a clear need for improving folates intake in the\r\nSpanish population.