Table 2

Serum folate concentrations and dietary intake of folate in the study sample of Cretan adults.1


Serum folate
 % ≤7
Folate intake
 % <400


(nmol/l)2
 nmol/l
(μg/d)3
 (μg/1000 kcal/d)
 μg/d
Men






20–34 y
 (n = 107)
 13.8 (12.5–15.3)
 7.5
 (n = 103)
 248 (213–283)
 119 (106–133)
 83.5
35–50 y
 (n = 80)
 16.0 (14.2–18.0)
 6.3
 (n = 72)
 351 (297–406)
 174 (149–198)
 69.4
>50 y
 (n = 63)
 18.6 (15.8–21.9)4
 6.3
 (n = 20)
 325 (242–407)5
 166 (130–201)6
 65.0
Total
 (n = 250)
 15.6 (14.6–16.8)
 6.8
 (n = 195)
 294 (265–323)
 144 (132–157)
 76.4








Women






20–34 y
 (n = 101)
 17.4 (15.8–19.2)
 3.0
 (n = 96)
 247 (207–288)
 159 (134–184)
 86.5
35–50 y
 (n = 79)
 19.4 (17.2–22.0)
 1.3
 (n = 72)
 242 (198–287)
 155 (133–177)
 88.9
>50 y
 (n = 56)
 22.8 (19.3–26.9)7
 1.8
 (n = 17)
 266 (160–372)
 192 (129–255)
 76.5
Total
 (n = 236)
 19.2 (17.9–20.7)
 2.1
 (n = 185)
 247 (219–275)
 161 (144–177)
 86.5

1 Data are presented as geometric mean (95% confidence interval).

2 Men had significantly lower serum folate concentrations than women (p < 0.001).

3 Men had significantly higher intake of dietary folate (μg/d) than women (p = 0.003).

4 p = 0.001 (trend by age).

5 p = 0.003 (trend by age).

6p < 0.001 (trend by age).

7p = 0.008 (trend by age).

Hatzis et al. Nutrition Journal 2006 5:5   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-5-5