Maternal predictors of RBC folate levels in an urban Canadian population.
OBJECTIVE
To assess factors associated with low Red Blood Cell folate (RBCf) levels in an obstetric population in a tertiary centre.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Three hundred and fifty women completed a questionnaire detailing use of folic acid supplementation, and had their RBCf levels measured. Values ≥ 906 nmol/L were considered optimal. Factors associated with optimal RBCf were assessed, individually and in a logistic regression model.


RESULTS
Median RBCf was 1282 nmol/L. Thirty-five women (10%) had suboptimal levels. Predictors of suboptimal RBCf were non-Caucasian ethnicity, non-consumption of folic acid supplementations, and inadequate health care provider information regarding the benefits of folic acid consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
Although, in our population, a high proportion of women achieved optimal levels of RBCf, some women remain at risk due to inadequate folate consumption. Patient and health care provider education regarding folate can still be improved, particularly in the groups identified to be at greater risk.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Hillel Yafe Medical Centre, Israel. Electronic address: alon.shrim@gmail.com.
Alon
A
Shrim
Department of Clinical Pathology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Canada.
Bhushan
B
Kapur
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Jennifer
J
Snyder
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
Olga
O
Basso
Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
David
D
Blank
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Richard N
RN
Brown
D000328:Adult; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology
D005492:Folic Acid
Folic acid; Neural tube defects; Pregnancy; Red Blood Cell folate; Vitamin supplementation