Folate intake and blood folate levels in the Western Australian Aboriginal population

• Reach:

  WA

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

This project will provide baseline information on the intake of dietary folate and levels of folate and vitamin B12 in the blood in a sample of the West Australian Aboriginal population, prior to the introduction of fortification. The participants will be recruited from Broome, Kalgoorlie and Perth in collaboration with Aboriginal community controlled health services (ACCHS):

• Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (BRAMS)

• Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service (DYHS)

• Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC)

Three to five years after mandatory fortification is instituted a second round of sampling will be done and compared with the baseline measures obtained from this current study. That evaluation will show the extent to which mandatory fortification has reached the WA Aboriginal population. If mandatory fortification does not reach the desired levels, further health promotion campaigns can be targeted at these audiences and where necessary methods of improving access to fortified foods in these subgroups can be developed.

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council abstract

Contacts

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC)
Corner of Anne and Dora Streets
PO Box 1377
Broome WA 6725
Ph: (08) 9194 3200
Fax: (08) 9192 2500
Email: kamsc@kamsc.org.au

Related publications

Bower C (2006)

Primary prevention of neural tube defects with folate in Western Australia: the value of the Western Australian Birth Defects Registry.

Congenital Anomalies; 46: 118-121

• Links
• View abstract: Primary prevention of neural tube defects with folate in Western Australia: the value of the Western Australian Birth Defects Registry
• View website: Wiley InterScience

Macaldowie A, Hilder L (2011)

Neural tube defects in Australia: prevalence before mandatory folic acid fortification.

Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

• Links
• View abstract: Neural tube defects in Australia: prevalence before mandatory folic acid fortification summary
• View report: Neural tube defects in Australia: prevalence before mandatory folic acid fortification
• View report: Neural tube defects in Australia: prevalence before mandatory folic acid fortification (PDF - 1.7 MB)
• View media release: Baseline released for monitoring effect of mandatory folic acid fortification on neural tube defects
• View website: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Links

• View information: Folate intake and blood folate levels in the Western Australian Aboriginal Population
• View website: Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC)