Investigation of factors influencing folate status in women who have had a neural tube defect-affected infant.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate folate intake and blood levels of vitamins in women with and without a history of neural tube defect (NTD)-affected infant and to explore the relation between red cell and serum folate in those women.


METHODS
Twenty-nine women with a history of NTD-affected infant, who had taken periconceptional vitamin supplements one year or more prior to the study and twenty-nine controls with no such history.


METHODS
Dietary intake of folate was assessed by questionnaire and blood levels of folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin C were measured.


RESULTS
Neither dietary intake of folate nor any of the blood vitamins measured were lower in the women with a history of NTD infant. The majority of women who had received periconceptional vitamin supplementation subsequently had adequate folate intakes and red blood cell folates greater than 160 micrograms/l. Smokers had lower plasma Vitamin C levels than nonsmokers. Multiple regression analysis suggested that the relation between red blood cell (RBC) and serum folate may differ between women with and without a history of NTD.


CONCLUSIONS
Women with a history of NTD-affected infants may have different folate metabolism from those who have not.
Wild
J
J
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Leeds, UK.
Schorah
C J
CJ
Sheldon
T A
TA
Smithells
R W
RW
D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000209:etiology*; D016742:Preconception Care; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid