I have just finished reading an article about the nutrition status of United States women in regards to folate.

Folate definition from pdr health.

The term folate is used in two different ways. Folate, a member of the B-vitamin family, is a collective term for a number of chemical forms which are structurally related and which have similar biological activity to folic acid. Folate is also the term which is used for the anionic form of folic acid. Folic acid or pteroylglutamic acid (PGA) is comprised of para-aminobenzoic acid linked at one end to a pteridine ring and at the other end to glutamic acid. The pteridine-para-aminobenzoic acid portion of the molecule is called the pteroyl group. Folic acid is a synthetic folate form which is used for food fortification and nutritional supplements. It is not one of the principal naturally occurring forms of folate, used in the collective sense.

U.S. Women, Especially Minorities, Short on Folate

Folate helps to prevent neural tube defects of a developing fetus. It is found in dark green, leafy vegetables, oranges and their juice and dried beans. Many women of child bearing age are not getting the adequate amount from food and some researchers are recommending a supplement of a multi vitamin with folate to raise the amount of women in compliance.

However, only a minority of U.S. women are reaching that goal, according to the new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Among white women in the federal health survey, 40 percent reported getting at least 400 mcg of folate or folic acid each day. The numbers were even smaller among minority women: only 19 percent of black women and 21 percent of Hispanic women were getting enough of the vitamin.

Anyone up for a spinach salad with a side of orange juice?