Study Finds Low Folate Levels Among Malaysian Women

Scoop: A joint study by leading Malaysian and New Zealand nutrition researchers has found that Malaysian women of childbearing age are at risk of birth defects due to low folate intake in their diet.
Folate plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of neural tube defects (NTD) during pregnancies. Serious folate deficiency can lead to birth defects such as Spina Bifida, a form of NTD.
The joint study of 399 Malaysian women found that only 15.2 per cent of them had red cell folate concentrations at levels that would ensure a low risk of neural tube defects in babies.