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>11g/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±8.2ng/mL) and at delivery (11.8±7.2ng/mL), and was significantly higher at 6 weeks postpartum (14.8±7.5ng/mL). The average red bleed cell folate was the lowest during early pregnancy (478±255ng/mL), slightly increased during late pregnancy (558+311ng/mL) and at delivery (677±358ng/mL), and were significantly higher during the postpartum period (805±267ng/mL). There were 13.6% pregnant women in the early stage with marginal folate deficiency (plasma folate of 3~6ng/mL), and 10% with folate deficiency (plasma folate<3ng/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<160ng/mL) and 7.4% with marginal folate deficiency (RBC folate of 160~200ng/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.
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>11g/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±8.2ng/mL) and at delivery (11.8±7.2ng/mL), and was significantly higher at 6 weeks postpartum (14.8±7.5ng/mL). The average red bleed cell folate was the lowest during early pregnancy (478±255ng/mL), slightly increased during late pregnancy (558+311ng/mL) and at delivery (677±358ng/mL), and were significantly higher during the postpartum period (805±267ng/mL). There were 13.6% pregnant women in the early stage with marginal folate deficiency (plasma folate of 3~6ng/mL), and 10% with folate deficiency (plasma folate<3ng/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<160ng/mL) and 7.4% with marginal folate deficiency (RBC folate of 160~200ng/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.