| Summary: | Sikh population is at a higher risk for having neural tube defects (NTD) affected
pregnancies compared to the general Canadian population. The women capable
of becoming pregnant are recommended to increase the consumption of folic
acid to reduce the risk of NTD. This descriptive study of 45 Sikh women
between the ages of 18 - 45 years living in the Lower Mainland, BC, assessed
their folate status, knowledge level of folate and neural tube defects, and beliefs
regarding diet and pregnancy. The folate intake was estimated using seven 24
hour dietary recalls conducted over a period of 4 weeks and included
representative number of weekdays and weekend days. The red blood cell folate
and plasma homocysteine analysis on the blood samples of these women were
performed by the BC Biomedical Laboratories. An interviewer administered
questionnaire was used to determine the level of folate knowledge and their
beliefs regarding diet and pregnancy. Folic acid fortification increased folate
intake by 121 ± 53 μg synthetic folic acid (SFA)/day from 291 ± 75 dietary
folate equivalents (DFE)/day to 492 ± 132 DFE/day. For regular user,
supplements contributed an average of 351 ± 267 μg SFA/day. The mean daily
folate intake from all sources was 727 ± 420 DFE/day and 96% women were
meeting the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR; 320 DFE/day). However,
only 24% women were meeting the special recommendation of 400 μg SFA/day
for women capable of becoming pregnant. The mean red blood cell folate level
958 ± 213 nmol/L and 56% women had levels > 906 nmol/L, which is associated with reduced risk of NTD. The mean plasma homocysteine level was
7.3 ± 2.5 nmol/L. Only half of the women had heard of folate and the most
common sources of this information were doctors, magazines/newspaper and
school. Lack of awareness and belief that diet supplies enough folic acid were
the most common reasons provided by the Sikh women for not taking a
supplement. Most women believed that diet played an important role in
pregnancy. Strategies are required to increase the knowledge of Sikh women
regarding folate and neural tube defects. === Land and Food Systems, Faculty of === Graduate
|
|---|
