Final answer:
Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE) is the measure used for the amount of folate available from various sources. It's vital for preventing neural tube defects in pregnancy, and a daily intake of 300-400 µg is recommended for overall health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of folate available to the body from naturally occurring sources, fortified foods, and supplements, accounting for differences in the bioavailability from each source, is known as Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE). 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 to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly, which can occur during the early stages of pregnancy. This is why an adequate intake of folate is crucial.
Folate is not only essential for women who might become pregnant, but also beneficial to health generally because it acts as a coenzyme in the synthesis of nucleic acids and metabolism of amino acids. The liver can store a small amount of folic acid, with the daily requirement of folic acid estimated to be about 300-400 µg, which can generally be supplied by intestinal flora. However, during antibiotic therapy or due to poor diets, supplementation might be required to fulfill the daily folate requirement.