"Dietary folate" refers to a type of vitamin called folate that we get from the food we eat. It is important for our body's growth, development, and overall health.
Full definition
Higher levels
of dietary folate in men have been related to the presence of fewer abnormal sperm than in those men with a low intake of folate.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides biological evidence linking maternal MTHFR and
dietary folate deficiencies to adverse pregnancy outcomes in mice.
A deficiency of folate can occur when an increased need for folate is not matched by an increased intake,
when dietary folate intake does not meet recommended needs, and when folate loss increases.
Some researchers think that
low dietary folate levels due to reduced vegetable and fruit intake adversely affected our genes giving rise to a genetic variant, which then impairs our ability to metabolize folic acid.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for folate for adults is 400 DFE (
Dietary Folate Equivalents), during pregnancy 600 DEF and during breastfeeding 500 DEF [1].