More than half of South Korea’s teenagers and young adults have folic acid levels below the recommended threshold, raising health concerns. (Image courtesy of Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent study conducted by the National Institute of Health has revealed that more than half of South Korea’s teenagers and young adults have folic acid levels below the recommended threshold, raising health concerns.
Folic acid, a water-soluble vitamin crucial for cell growth and division, is particularly important for the development of fetuses, making it a vital nutrient for pregnant women. Deficiencies in folic acid have been linked to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions.
The study also looked at Vitamin B12, essential for cell division and neurological functions, and homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid that increases with a lack of B vitamins, including folic acid. The findings indicate that 5.1% of individuals over the age of 10 suffer from a folic acid deficiency, with 31% on the borderline.
The deficiency rates were higher among teenagers and young adults, with approximately 13% of individuals in their teens and twenties deficient and over 45% borderline deficient, totaling around 59% not meeting the recommended folic acid levels.
Furthermore, males showed a higher deficiency rate compared to females, with over 60% of teenage boys and 70% of men in their twenties falling below the optimal folic acid concentration levels.
Vitamin B12 deficiencies or borderline deficiencies were more prevalent in men (2.9%) than in women (1.1%). Elevated homocysteine levels were also significantly more common in men (11.8%) than in women (1.6%). Lower levels of folic acid or Vitamin B12 were associated with higher homocysteine levels, which can lead to arterial damage and blood clots.
The findings, published in the international public health journal ‘Epidemiology and Health’, underscore the importance of maintaining adequate folic acid levels for preventing and managing chronic diseases.
Ji Young-mi, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, emphasized the need for further research to understand the long-term health impacts of folic acid deficiency in younger populations and to explore ways to improve their nutritional status.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
