葉酸點數表之研發

Development of a Counting System for Folate-Rich Foods

本研究之目的為建立一個葉酸點數表系統，將食物中葉酸含量簡化為點數，可用來粗估飲食中的葉酸攝取量。研究人員先補遺國民營養調查飲食資料庫之食物葉酸含量數據，繼而在每日建議量相當於10個點數的假設前提下，規劃一套食物與點數的對應表，並計算出一般成年人之每日建議點數。當每單位份量的食物之葉酸含量小於10微克者，以0點表示；之後每增加20微克，即增加0.5點。結果顯示，高葉酸點數的食物包括：蔬菜類的菠菜、油菜（5點）、薺菜（4.5點）、青江菜（4點）、蘆筍（3.5點），主食類的小麥胚芽（3.5點），豆類的豆漿（2點）、嫩豆腐、雞蛋豆腐（1.5點），水果類的柳丁、木瓜（1.5點）等。依據國民營養調查的國人選食狀況，在扣除0點食物的葉酸含量後，成年人需要攝入8.5點以上才能達到建議量。此葉酸點數表可協助營養師進行簡易營養評估，以及快速設計符合每日建議點數的個人化飲食。民眾亦可自行參考以認識高點數食物，並在同一大類食物中取代低點數者。

The objective of this study was to establish a folate counting system, which simplifies the folate contents of foods into points in order to facilitate quick estimation of dietary folate intake. Researchers first established a folate database for food items consumed by subjects in the “Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan 1993-1996”(NAHSIT I). Then folate points were calculated for all food items under the hypothesis that the daily dietary recommendation for folate was equal to 10 points. Zero points were assigned to foods with folate contents of < 10 g per serving, and 0.5 points were added for every 20- g increment. Results showed that the number of points for folate-rich foods included:(1)5 for spinach and rape, 4.5 for shepherd’s purse, 4 for Shanghai pak choy, and 3.5 for asparagus among vegetables;(2)3.5 for wheat germ among grains;(3)2 for soy milk, and 1.5 for soft tofu and egg tofu among soy products; and(4)1.5 for orange and papaya among fruits. Based on dietary intake and practice information extracted from the 24-h recall data of the NAHSIT I, Taiwanese adults still need 8.5 points to meet their daily folate requirement after the folate contents of 0-point foods were deducted from their diets. This folate counting system can be utilized by dietitians to rapidly evaluate dietary folate intake and efficiently develop individualized meal plans, and by the general public to teach themselves so they can substitute folate-rich foods for foods with lower folate points.