Spina Bifida, Folate Metabolism, and Dietary Folate intake in a Northern Canadian Aboriginal Population

Inhabitants of the subarctic region of the Eastern James Bay
of Northern Quebec consume a diet low in folate. This is largely secondary to poor access to plant-foods and a preferred diet high in meat, fowl, and fish as in many other northern populations. Furthermore, there is a high frequency of spina bifida in the Cree of the region. It was hypothesized that genetically altered folate metabolism as well as low folate intake contributes to the high frequency of spina bifida.