Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors in relation to folic acid supplement use in infertile and fertile Swedish women

• Background: Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors are considered to be associated with folic acid supplement use and intake in the general population, but studies on infertile women are lacking. When investigating dietary supplement intake, the validity of the assessment of reported supplement use and actual intake is crucial. The objective of the study was to investigate socioeconomic, lifestyle and dietary factors in relation to folic acid supplement use and folate status in infertile and fertile women. In addition, a sub-analysis was performed to validate the used questionnaire. Methods: In this observational study, 340 infertile women and 188 fertile women were investigated. A questionnaire was used to assess lifestyle and dietary habits and use of dietary supplements. Blood samples were obtained for analyses of plasma folate and homocysteine levels. 24-hour recall interviews were performed to validate the questionnaire. Results: Folic acid supplement use was related to marital status, educational level and employment status. Infertile women had significantly higher mean folic acid daily intake and better folate status. However, folate status did not correlate with socioeconomic or lifestyle factors. The infertile women were physically more active, smoked less and had better employment status, but they were also more obese than fertile women. Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were not related to in vitro fertilization outcome. Dietary data from the questionnaires showed good validity compared with the data from the 24-hour recall interviews, but data regarding folic acid supplement use showed only fair agreement between these methods. Conclusions: Highly educated, employed, married and infertile women were most prone to using folic acid supplements. Only a few socioeconomic and lifestyle factors differed between infertile and fertile women, and these were not related to folate status or IVF outcome. Methods other than a questionnaire are recommended when investigating folic acid supplement use. 

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Folic acid supplement

infertility

socioeconomic status

lifestyle

dietary

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)