Table 2.
Plasma folate concentrations and folate deficient rates among Chinese women of childbearing age by region
| Region | Geometric mean (95% CI, nmol L−1) | Deficient rate (%) † | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude | Adjusted* | ||
| South, overall | 25.9 (24.7–27.1) | 26.2 (25.0–27.4) ‡ | 1.5 ‡ |
| East | |||
| Overall | 26.2 (24.7–27.8) | 26.5 (24.9–28.2) ‡ | 1.0 ‡ |
| Urban | 24.4 (22.2–26.9) | 24.3 (22.1–26.6) ‡ , § | 2.0 ‡ |
| Rural | 28.1 (26.3–30.0) | 28.8 (26.3–31.5) ‡ | 0.0 ‡ |
| West | |||
| Overall | 25.6 (23.9–27.4) | 26.0 (24.4–27.7) ‡ | 2.0 ‡ |
| Urban | 22.4 (20.4–24.6) | 23.2 (21.0–25.6) ‡ , § | 4.0 § |
| Rural | 29.3 (26.7–32.2) | 29.1 (26.4–32.0) ‡ | 0.0 ‡ |
| North, overall | 13.3 (12.8–13.7) | 13.6 (13.1–14.1) | 20.0 |
| East | |||
| Overall | 12.6 (12.0–13.1) | 12.9 (12.4–13.4) | 22.8 ¶ |
| Urban | 13.1 (12.3–13.9) | 14.1 (13.1–14.7) § | 19.4 ¶ |
| Rural | 12.1 (11.4–12.9) | 11.5 (10.7–12.3) | 26.1 |
| West | |||
| Overall | 14.7 (13.8–15.7) | 14.6 (13.7–15.6) | 14.5 |
| Urban | 16.4 (15.0–18.0) | 16.5 (15.1–18.1) § | 9.0 § |
| Rural | 13.2 (12.1–14.4) | 12.9 (11.8–14.1) | 20.0 |
*
Geometric means of plasma folate concentration were controlled for age, body mass index, education level and multivitamins and/or folic acid supplement use.
†
Folate deficiency rates using 6.8 nmol L−1 (from radioassay, i.e. 9.2 nmol L−1 converted to result of microbiological assay) as cut‐off value.
‡
P < 0.01 for the comparison with the North.
§
P < 0.01 for the comparison with rural areas in the same region.
¶
P < 0.01 for the comparison with the west in the South/North.