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Changes in folate status in overweight/obese women following two different weight control programmes based on an increased consumption of vegetables or fortified breakfast cereals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

R. M. Ortega ,
A. M. López-Sobaler ,
P. Andrés ,
E. Rodríguez-Rodríguez ,
A. Aparicio ,
L. M. Bermejo  and
B. López-Plaza
R. M. Ortega*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
A. M. López-Sobaler
Affiliation:
Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
P. Andrés
Affiliation:
Laboratorio de Técnicas Instrumentales, Sección Departamental de Química Analítica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
E. Rodríguez-Rodríguez
Affiliation:
Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
A. Aparicio
Affiliation:
Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
L. M. Bermejo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
B. López-Plaza
Affiliation:
Departamento de Nutrición, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
*
*Corresponding author: Dr R. M. Ortega, fax +34 91 394 17 32, email rortega@farm.ucm.es
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Abstract

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The modification of folate status was analysed in a group of sixty-seven overweight/obese women of childbearing age (20–35 years). Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two slightly hypocaloric diets: diet V (increased consumption of vegetables) or diet C (increased consumption of breakfast cereals). Dietetic, anthropometric and biochemical data were collected at the start of the study and again at 2 and 6 weeks. At 6 weeks a weight loss of 2·0 (sd 1·3) kg was achieved in V subjects and of 2·8 (sd 1·4) kg in C subjects (P<0·05). At the start of the study, 64·2 % of all subjects had a folate intake of <67 % of the recommended intake; this fell to just 3 % (7·14 % of V subjects and 0 % of C subjects) by week 6. Significant increases were only seen in C subjects in serum folate concentrations (both at 2 and 6 weeks), accompanied by a significant reduction in serum homocysteine (at week 6). Some 62·1 % of all subjects had serum folate concentrations of ≥13·6 nmol/l (associated with a very low risk of neural tube defects) at the start of the study, while 87·0 % (85·2 % of V subjects and 88·9 % of C subjects) had concentrations of ≥13·6 nmol/l at 6 weeks (P<0·01). Increasing the relative consumption of vegetables/cereals in the context of a slightly hypocaloric diet may therefore be a good way to lose body weight. Breakfast cereals may be of special help with respect to folate status and serum homocysteine levels in overweight/obese young women following energy restriction diets.

Keywords

Folic acidYoung womenOverweightObesityHomocysteine
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 96 , Issue 4 , October 2006 , pp. 712 - 718
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2006

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