title: [Deficiency of folates in pregnancy: effect of supplementary folic acid].
abstract: Higher folate needs are present during pregnancy, which may lead to tissular deficiency in the mother and to depleted newborn folate reserves. The aim of this work was to assess the prevalence of folate deficiency and to establish the rates of serum and red cell folate in two groups of mothers and newborn infants, one receiving only iron and the other iron and folate during pregnancy. The rates of serum and red cell folate found at the end of pregnancy were significantly higher in the group which received folate; however, the percentage of cases with tissular folate deficiency was low in both groups, with no significant difference (3.8% and 1.3%, respectively). These findings, along with the lack of effect of supplemental folate on erythropoiesis, pose some questions on the usefulness of supplemental folate during pregnancy in our country.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barrena
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foradori
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gormaz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grebe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid
vernacular_title: Deficiencia de folatos en el embarazo: efecto de una suplementación con ácido fólico.