Folate and vitamin B₁₂status of women of reproductive age living in Hanoi City and Hai Duong Province of Vietnam

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the folate and vitamin B 12 status of a group of Vietnamese women of reproductive age and to estimate the rate of neural tube defects (NTD) based on red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations. Design and subjects: A representative sample of non-pregnant women (15-49 years) living in Hanoi City (n 244) and Hai Duong Province (n 245). Measures: RBC folate, plasma vitamin B 12 and plasma holo-transcobalamin (holoTC), a sensitive indicator of vitamin B 12 status. Results: Mean (95 % CI) concentrations of RBC folate, plasma B 12 and plasma holoTC were 856 (837, 876) nmol/l, 494 (475, 513) pmol/l and 78 (74, 82) pmol/l, respectively. Only 3 % and 4 % of women had plasma B 12 and holoTC concentrations indicative of deficiency. No woman had an RBC folate concentration indicative of deficiency (,317 nmol/l). Only 47 % of women had an RBC folate concentration $905 nmol/l. Accordingly, we predict the NTD rate in these regions of Vietnam to be 14?7 (14?2, 15?1) per 10 000 pregnancies. Conclusion: There was no evidence of folate and vitamin B 12 deficiency among this population of Vietnamese women. However, suboptimal folate status may be placing three out of five women at increased risk of NTD. Reductions in NTD rates are still possible and women would benefit from additional folic acid during the periconceptional period from either supplements or fortified foods.

Micronutrient Deficits Are Still Public Health Issues among Women and Young Children in Vietnam

“…The low prevalence of folate deficiency in women in this survey is in agreement with a recent study conducted in 2006 among women living in Hanoi and Hai Phuong provinces that did not show evidence of folate and vitamin B 12 deficiencies [11]. However, approximately one third of women in our survey had a marginal folate status.…”

“…Moreover, recent intervention pilot studies showed that the prevalence of anemia ranges from 25% to 45% in schoolchildren [8], [9] and 24% in women of reproductive age [10]. In addition, the prevalence of zinc and selenium deficiencies were also reported to be very high (>50%) in rural Vietnamese children [11]. However, another study carried out in 2008 in two Vietnamese provinces of the Mekong of Delta among women of reproductive age did not show evidence of folate and vitamin B 12 deficiencies, although many women had marginal folate status [11].…”

Improvement of the Vietnamese Diet for Women of Reproductive Age by Micronutrient Fortification of Staples Foods and Condiments

“…Our study carried out in 2010 shows that half of these Vietnamese women have low iron stores and the same proportion a marginal folate status [10]. Another recent study among women living in Hanoi and Hai Phuong Provinces indicated that 60% had a suboptimal folate status [42]. These results support the relevance to increase their iron and folate intakes.…”

Vitamin B12 concentrations in pregnant Colombian women: analysis of nationwide data 2010

“…Vitamin B12 is a cofactor of methionine synthase in the synthesis of methionine, the precursor of the universal methyl donor S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe), involved in different epigenomic regulatory mechanisms and especially in fetal growth [ 22 ]. In addition, vitamin B12 plays an essential role in folate metabolism and there is increasing evidence that poor maternal vitamin B12 status may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as neural tube defects (NTD) [ 23 , 24 ]. Considering the lack of a defined cut-off value for vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnant women, the prevalence of this condition may be overestimated due to a dilution effect in the second trimester of pregnancy.…”