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