The folate status of pre-natal follow up pregnant women at hospital in Taipei
Journal
Nutritional Sciences Journal
Journal Volume
31
Journal Issue
1
Pages
8-16
Date Issued
2006
Author(s)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the folate status of pregnant women in Taipei. Eighty-one pregnant women who received prenatal follow-up at Geng-Xin or Ya-Dong Hospital, aged 20 to 35 years and who did not have anemia (hemoglobin >11 g/dL) were recruited as study subjects. Fasting blood samples were collected from subjects during the early stage (<18 weeks), late stage (19-36 weeks ), at delivery, and the postpartum stage (6 weeks after delivery) to measure folate. The results showed that the average plasma folate level dropped to the lowest point during late pregnancy (11.6 ± 8.2 ng/mL) and at delivery (11.8 ± 7.2 ng/mL), and was significantly higher at 6 weeks postpartum (14.8 ± 7.5 ng/mL). The average red blood cell folate was the lowest during early pregnancy (478 ± 255 ng/mL), slightly increased during late pregnancy (558 ± 311 ng/ mL) and at delivery (677 ± 358 ng/mL), and were significantly higher during the postpartum period (805 ± 267 ng/mL). There were 13.6% pregnant women in the early stage with marginal folate deficiency (plasma folate of 3-6 ng/mL), and 10% with folate deficiency (plasma folate <3 ng/ mL) and 21% with marginal folate deficiency during late pregnancy. When evaluated by RBC folate, there were 12.1% of women with folate insufficiency during early pregnancy, including 3.7% with folate deficiency (RBC folate of < 160 ng/mL) and 7.4% with marginal folate deficiency (RBC folate of 160-200 ng/mL). Although most pregnant women with a poor RBC folate status had recovered by 6 weeks after delivery, 11% of the postpartum women still had a poor plasma folate status at that time. Our study indicates that one-tenth of pregnant women had a poor folate status during early pregnancy, and up to one-third during late pregnancy. Therefore, folate nutrition still needs be emphasized during pregnancy to avoid any possible fetal and maternal health problems.
Subjects
Folate; Folate status of pregnancy; Plasma folate; RBC folate
SDGs
Other Subjects
folic acid; adult; article; blood sampling; controlled study; female; first trimester pregnancy; folic acid blood level; folic acid deficiency; follow up; human; prenatal diagnosis; puerperium; Taiwan
Type
journal article