Low proportions of folic acid deficiency after introduction of mandatory folic acid fortification in remote areas of northern Queensland, Australia: a secondary health data analysis

Low proportions of folic acid deficiency after introduction of mandatory folic acid fortification in remote areas of northern Queensland, Australia: a secondary health data analysis Journal Article

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• Author(s): Slagman, Anna, Harriss, Linton, Campbell, Sandra, Muller, Reinhold, McDermott, Robyn
• Published: 2019
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISBN: 1354-750X

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Abstract: Background: Australia implemented mandatory folic acid fortification of bread-making flour in 2009.Objective: To assess the impact of folic acid fortification in remote vs. regional urban areas and Indigenous vs. non-Indigenous populations in northern Queensland.Methods: Routinely collected data on folic acid measurements in remote areas and two regional urban centres in northern Queensland between 2004 and 2015 were analysed (n?=?13,929) dichotomously (folic deficient vs. non-deficient).Results: Overall prevalence of folic acid deficiency was 3.2% (235/7282) in urban centres compared with 7.2% (480/6647) in remote areas (p?

• Urls: https://doi.org/10.1080/1354750X.2019.1652346
• Keywords: Folic acid, indigenous, nutrition, red cell folate, secondary health data, remote