Abstract
In this study, we determined major foods and food groups which contributed to the intake of folate in korean child-bearing women. Folate content of the major foods was also analyzed. A total of 91 healthy women with childbearing potential participated. They were divided into one of three groups by age; A (15∼24 yrs), B(25∼34 yrs) and C (35∼49 yrs). Food consumption data of the subjects were obtained by the 24-hr recall method. The rate of contribution of each food to the total intake of dietary folate was determined. Seventy major foods for folate were selected from the 178 foods they consumed. Two sets of the 70 foods were collected from different markets. After extracting folates from the foods by heating with a HEPES-CHES buffer, the samples were treated with α-amylase, protease and folate intakes was Korean cabbage kimchi followed by laver, soybean sprout, rice, yolmu kimchi, eggs, lettuce, perilla leaves, sea mustard and radish root. Food items that contributed to folate intake were slightly different among the age groups. Although the folate content of Korean cabbage kimchi was 51.6 ㎍/100g, but due to the high amount of intake, it was ranked the first major food prviding folate. High folate foods containing over 100㎍/100g were laver, corn flakes, spinach, mungbean, sesame, quail's eggs, small radish kimchi, kidney beans, leeks and peanuts. However, based on the serving size, spinach, corn flakes, leeks, sweet potato, pepper leaves, quail's eggs, crown daisy, small radish kimchi and perilla leaves contributed above 50㎍ of folate per serving size.