Journal of Health Monitoring

Folate is important for cell division and thus for growth and physical development. Serum folate concentrations can be used to assess a population’s folate status. In Germany, the median serum folate level of adults aged 18 to 79 is 7.5 ng/ml (women: 7.9 ng/ml, and men: 7.2 ng/ml). Approximately 86% of the adult population in Germany has adequate folate levels. Higher folate concentrations are observed among older age groups and individuals with a higher socio-economic status. However, the World Health Organization recommends that women of reproductive age should, at the population level, have significantly higher folate levels in order to reduce the risk for neural tube defects. However, the majority of women in this age group do not achieve these concentrations. NUTRITION · FOLATE · HEALTH SURVEY · DEGS 1 · GERMANY Introduction Folate refers to the naturally occurring form of this water-soluble B vitamin. Many types of fruit and vegetables (such as green leafy vegetables, cucumbers and tomatoes) as well as potatoes, meat, and bread and pastries made from wholegrain flour are good sources of folate. However, a significant amount of folate can be lost during food preparation, e.g. through exposure to heat [1]. The synthetic form of folate – folic acid – is used in dietary supplements and fortified foods. The two forms are chemically distinguishable: folic acid is more stable when exposed to light, heat and oxygen, and has a higher level of bioavailability than folate [1, 2]. Folate is required for a number of important body functions including cell growth, division and differentiation. An adequate supply of folate, therefore, is particularly important during pregnancy as it can significantly reduce the risk for embryonic malformations (neural tube defects), foetal growth retardation, premature birth, miscarriage and low birth weight [3]. There is also discussion about a possible contribution of folate in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. However, there is insufficient evidence to support a preventive impact of folate supply beyond general requirements [1]. A population’s folate status may be estimated in different ways: firstly, information on folate intake via foods that people consume can be collected (using data gathered through consumption surveys); secondly, serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations can be measured. Whereas erythrocyte folate is a good indicator of an individual’s long-term folate status, serum folate levels provide information about an individual’s current folate status. Although serum folate concentrations are subject to individual and daily variations, they are still considered an appropriate biomarker for assessing the population’s folate status [1, 6]. In the following, results are presented of serum folate analyses collected in the ‘German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Authors: Gert B.M. Mensink 1, Anke Weißenborn 2 Almut Richter 1 Journal of Health Monitoring · 2016 1(2) DOI 10.17886/RKI-GBE-2016-040.2 1 Robert Koch Institute, Berlin 2 Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin Approximately 86% of the adult population in Germany have adequate folate levels.