Explore the rich history and role of refined grain enrichment and fortification in improving public health.
folate/folic acid
Grain Foods in US Infants Are Associated with Greater Nutrient Intakes, Improved Diet Quality and Increased Consumption of Recommended Food Groups (November 2019)
Grain foods may play an essential role in the diets of U.S. infants, according to an analysis of infant data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study examined relationships between grain consumption, nutrient intake, diet quality, and food group consumption among infants aged 6 to 23 months.
Grains Contribute Shortfall Nutrients and Nutrient Density to Older US Adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2011–2014 (April 2018)
The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have identified several shortfall nutrients in the U.S. population, including fiber, folate, and iron (women only). Intake of some shortfall nutrients can be even lower in older adults. The present analyses determined the contribution of grain foods for energy and nutrients in older U.S. adults and ranked to all other food sources in the American diet.
Low carbohydrate diets may increase risk of neural tube defects (January 2018)
Folic acid fortification has significantly reduced neural tube defects (NTDs) in the U.S., but the rise of low-carbohydrate diets raises concerns about adequate folic acid intake among women avoiding fortified foods.
Grain Foods Are Contributors of Nutrient Density for American Adults and Help Close Nutrient Recommendation Gaps: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2009–2012 (August 2017)
This analysis examined the role of grain foods in providing energy and nutrients for U.S. adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2012). Grain foods were analyzed for their contributions to both total energy and shortfall nutrients identified by the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), including dietary fiber, folate, iron, and magnesium.
Several grain dietary patterns are associated with better diet quality and improved shortfall nutrient intakes in US children and adolescents: a study focusing on the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (February 2017)
This study examined grain consumption patterns among U.S. children and adolescents (ages 2–18, N = 8,367) and their association with diet quality and intake of shortfall nutrients identified in the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Eight grain food patterns were analyzed using NHANES 2005–2010 data.