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A study of the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) from Tarragona has concluded that following a Mediterranean diet is not a guarantee of sufficient intake of folate, known as vitamin B9.
The work, published in the magazine Current Research in Food Sciencehas analyzed data on the dietary habits of 740 people from the province of Tarragonacollected between 1998 and 2002, and complemented with a general health examination and analyzes to reflect the level of B9 and other vitamins in the blood, the URV reports in a statement this Thursday.
The researcher at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the URV, Michelle Murphy, He explained that the consumption habits of that time were “more representative of the Mediterranean diet than those of today” and more relevant in this context.
Results
The results revealed that only the 17.5% of the sample followed a “rigorous” Mediterranean diet and yet a 15% of these people did not eat enough B9 according to the scales of the European Food Safety Authority, as well as 8.5% did not meet the requirements of the World Health Organization.
Among people with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, folate deficiencies skyrocket: 71% did not receive enough through intake and blood deficiencies were detected in more than a quarter of cases.
In addition, the study has identified a deficiency in other “very important” vitamins such as B6, essential for the development of the nervous system and the immune system.
It is not a guarantee
The work shows that there is a relationship between eating a rich and balanced Mediterranean diet and adequate folate intake and blood levels in most cases, but that adhering to said diet “does not necessarily guarantee” having good levels of B9.
Murphy has pointed out the importance of raising awareness among the population about supplementation in pregnant mothers, especially in B9 and B12and has opened the door to the debate on the “generalized fortification” of foods such as flour.
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