Folic acid supplementation for women of childbearing age is known to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects (NTD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between folate and NTD, particularly to examine the folate intake and erythrocyte folate levels in young Japanese women. Sixty-seven non-pregnant healthy women (mean age : 22±1 . 7) engaged in clinical nutrition and nursing science studies participated in our questionnaire survey concerning folate and NTD. Of these women, 38 subsequently agreed to participate in our research designed to investigate the intake of folate using the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and to examine erythrocyte and plasma folate levels by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA). Nineteen women (28 . 4%) responded affirmatively to the question “Do you know about NTD? ”, five (7 . 5%) indicated that they would take folic acid supplements in response to the question“ If you want to take folic acid for prevention of NTD, how would you take it? ”. The folate intake was 299 . 4±142 . 7 μg/ day, the erythrocyte folate level 631 . 3±145 . 7 nmol/L, and the plasma folate level 14 . 1± 5.3 nmol/L. Folate intake was positively correlated with erythrocyte folate levels(r=0.368, p =0 . 023), but not between folate intake and plasma folate levels. It is imperative that young women are given information about NTD and folic acid, that further studies be conducted to investigate erythrocyte folate levels and the best method for sustainable supplementation of folic acid for young women be determined.

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