J Am Diet Assoc
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The objectives of this study were to examine variability of folate intake in order to estimate the number of days needed to accurately estimate intakes in women of childbearing age and to simulate the effect of folic acid fortification of cereals and grains on individual folate intake. ⋯ Individual intakes of folate should be assessed with at least 7 days of dietary records (20% attenuation). In this sample, when folic acid fortification was added to dietary intake, routine supplementation was not necessary to achieve folate intakes of 400 micrograms in the majority of participants. The practice of routine folic acid supplementation should be considered carefully to ensure that individual intakes of folate do not exceed the upper limits of safety.
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Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are constantly produced in human beings under normal circumstances. Antioxidant systems help defend the body against ROS but may be overwhelmed during periods of oxidative stress, which can cause lipid peroxidation, damage to DNA, and cell death. Critical illness, such as sepsis or adult respiratory distress syndrome, can drastically increase the production of ROS and lead to oxidative stress. ⋯ In addition, higher levels of oxidative stress seem to occur in patients with more notable injuries. Dietary supplementation with antioxidant vitamins seems to be the logical answer to decreasing serum antioxidant concentrations, but antioxidants may have adverse effects. The benefit of supplementing antioxidants in critically ill populations has not been shown and requires further study.