Final answer:
Abigail consumed a total of 220 dietary folate equivalents (DFEs) yesterday, which includes folate from natural food and synthetic sources. The Food and Nutrition Board's recommendation for folate intake is to prevent neural tube defects in early pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yesterday, Abigail consumed 50 μg of natural food folate and 100 μg of synthetic folate. To calculate the total dietary folate equivalents (DFEs) that Abigail consumed, it is important to understand that natural food folate and synthetic folate, found in supplements and fortified foods, are absorbed differently by the body. The absorption of synthetic folate is higher, and hence it is converted to DFEs at a different rate compared to food folate.
The standard conversion is that 1 μg of food folate is equivalent to 1 DFE, and 1 μg of synthetic folate consumed with food is equivalent to 1.7 DFEs. Therefore:
- 50 μg of natural food folate = 50 DFEs
- 100 μg of synthetic folate = 100 μg x 1.7 = 170 DFEs
Add the two amounts to find the total DFEs:
50 DFEs + 170 DFEs = 220 DFEs
Thus, Abigail consumed a total of 220 dietary folate equivalents (DFEs) yesterday.
As for the importance of folate consumption, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends that all people who might become pregnant consume at least 400 μg/day of folate from supplements or fortified foods because folate is critical in preventing neural tube defects in the developing fetus during early pregnancy.