Red cell folate concentrations in patients with Crohn's disease on parenteral nutrition.
To examine changes in the folate concentrations in red cell during relatively long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN), 10 Japanese patients with Crohn's disease (7 males), the mean Crohn's disease activity index on admission being 211, were given folic acid in a dose of 400 micrograms/day (AMA-FDA formulation) or 800 micrograms/day for 6-16 weeks (mean 10.5). The red cell folate concentrations were determined before TPN and once every week or 2-4 weeks thereafter. The folate concentrations were very low even after TPN with folic acid of 400 micrograms/day. In those given 800 micrograms of daily folic acid, the folate levels tended to increase, but did not reach the normal range. We propose that folic acid over 800 micrograms/day or a double dose of AMA-FDA formulation should be prescribed for Crohn's disease treated with long-term TPN.
Tominaga
M
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushi University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Iida
M
M
Aoyagi
K
K
Kohrogi
N
N
Matsui
T
T
Fujishima
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D012074:Remission Induction; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid