Microbiological assay for folate content: limitations and improvements

The microbiological assay is currently the ‘gold standard’ assay for total folate analysis and is the only method accepted by the AOAC International. It is the accepted standard reference method for Australian and international food composition tables and nutrient databases. Although this assay is widely used, its limitations are wellrecognised. In this study, considerable research effort was dedicated to ensuring that the microbiological assay was optimised and rigorously validated for the analysis of folates in a vegetable matrix to ensure a high level of repeatability, reproducibility and fitness for use as a reference method. As a result, an improved microbiological assay for the analysis of total folates in vegetables was developed. Comparative studies with other laboratories experienced in these assays were undertaken

Folate Content of Asian Vegetables

Folates are one of the most nutritionally significant vitamins. Natural sources of folate are reportedly more effective than supplementation or fortification with folic acid. Green leafy vegetables are excellent sources of folates which occur naturally in many forms or vitamers. With an expanding range of Asian vegetables and increasing consumer awareness and acceptance, it is timely to present information on the health attributes of these vegetables