Folate and iron status of South African non-pregnant rural women of childbearing, age, before and after fortification of foods
South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 20, No. 3, Year 2007
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Objective. To assess the effect of fortification of staple foods on the folate and iron status of women of childbearing age. Design. A prospective cohort study was undertaken. Setting. Dikgale Demographic Surveillance Site, a rural area in the Capricorn district of Limpopo Province. Subjects. Non-pregnant women of childbearing age, 18 - 44 years (N=80). Outcome measures. Serum folate, ferritin, vitamin B12, red blood cell folate and full blood count. Results. The prevalence of low serum folate (<3ng/ml) in the study population was 27.6% before fortification; after fortification, none of the women had low serum folate. Low red cell folate (<164 ng/ml) was observed in 26.4% of subjects before fortification, and in 1.9% of subjects after fortification. The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency (<145 pg/ml) was 6.3% during phase 1 of the study and increased to 11.3% during phase 2. Low haemoglobin levels were present in 7.5% of women before fortification, and in 5% of women after fortification. The percentage of women with low ferritin levels was similar before and after fortification (25%). Conclusion. The study shows a significant improvement in folate status in women of childbearing age approximately 9 months after fortification of maize and wheat foodstuffs in South Africa, whereas no improvement in iron status as measured by serum ferritin was observed.