Effects of multivitamin and folic acid supplementation in malnourished children. A randomized community intervention trial to increase awareness and knowledge of the role of periconceptional folate in women of child-bearing age. Effect of folic acid supplementation on small-for-gestational-age infants born at term A Controlled Trial of the Effect of Folate Supplements on Homocysteine, Lipids and Hemorheology in End-Stage Renal Disease Colorectal Adenomas in a Randomized Folate Trial: The Role of Baseline Dietary and Circulating Folate Levels Folate Augmentation of Treatment--Evaluation for Depression (FolATED): randomised trial and economic evaluation. A comparison of iron and folate with folate alone in hematologic recovery of children treated for acute malaria. The increasing knowledge of the role of periconceptional folate in Victorian women of child‐bearing age: follow‐up of a randomised community intervention trial Rationale and design of the B-PROOF study, a randomized controlled trial on the effect of supplemental intake of vitamin B12 and folic acid on fracture incidence Weekly may be as efficacious as daily folic acid supplementation in improving folate status and lowering serum homocysteine concentrations in Guatemalan women. Effect of 3-year folic acid supplementation on cognitive function in older adults in the FACIT trial: a randomised, double blind, controlled trial Effects of folate supplementation on two provisional molecular markers of colon cancer: a prospective, randomized trial Effects of extended systemic and topical folate supplementation on gingivitis of pregnancy. Folate nutrition and growth in infancy. Double-blind randomised controlled trial of folate treatment before conception to prevent recurrence of neural-tube defects. Ethnicity and race influence the folate status response to controlled folate intakes in young women. Trials of Improved Practices (TIPs) to Enhance the Dietary and Iron-Folate Intake during Pregnancy- A Quasi Experimental Study among Rural Pregnant Women of Varanasi, India
OBJECTIVE To study the effect of multivitamin and folic acid supplementation on serum folate level and weight gain . MATERIAL AND METHOD A prospect i ve r and omized controlled study was conducted in malnourished children at the Nutrition Clinic , Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health from February to June 2000 . History taking , weight-height measurement , and blood testing for complete blood count ( CBC ) and serum folate level were done . Patients were r and omly by assigned into 2 groups . The study group was supplemented daily with multivitamins ( MVD ) along with a folic acid tablet while the control group was supplemented daily with MVD only , for 6 weeks . RESULTS Twenty-nine malnourished children were enrolled in the present study . They were r and omly by assigned into 2 groups , 14 children in the study group and 15 children in the control group . There were 11 boys ( 38 % ) and 18 girls ( 62 % ) . Mean age was 36.3 months .  Anemia and low serum folate level were found in 24 per cent and 21 per cent respectively . There was no significant difference in the data of both groups , except that anemia was more common in the study group ( p = 0.018 ) . After 6 weeks of supplementation , increases in weight and serum folate level were significantly higher in the study group , but there was no significant difference in weight increased between both groups . CONCLUSION Folate deficiency may be found in malnourished children . Efficacy of folic acid supplement is good . Folic acid needs to be supplemented in malnourished children OBJECTIVES : To determine the effect of a consumer-directed information campaign to increase knowledge of folate for the prevention of neural tube defects among women of child-bearing age , and to measure women 's recall of sources of information and knowledge about folate . DESIGN : A community r and omized trial . SETTING : Three matched pairs of geographically distinct Local Government Areas in the state of Victoria , Australia . INTERVENTION : Printed information recommending folate intake to decrease the risk of neural tube defects was disseminated to women of child-bearing age in three of the Local Government Areas selected r and omly . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE : The proportion of women aware of the association between folate and spina bifida . RESULTS : Of 1197 women interviewed prior to the intervention , 12.4 % ( adjusted for the cluster and population sampling unit ) were aware of folate and neural tube defects . After the intervention , there was not only a significant background increase of 3.4 % ( P=0.02 ) in folate awareness since the pre-intervention survey ( n=603 ) , but also a significant additional increase of 4.0 % ( P=0.04 ) owing to the intervention itself ( n=603 ) . Only 70 % of women who were aware of folate knew the correct timing . CONCLUSIONS : The provision of printed educational material can increase folate awareness among women of child-bearing age . A comprehensive , long-term and ongoing health promotion campaign including such material , together with initiatives by relevant health service providers and the food industry , could best address the current low levels of folate awareness among women of child-bearing age The effect of 250 μg folic acid (FA)/day or placebo given to 21 small-for-gestational-age infants born at term was studied during the first 3 months of life . The design of the study was double blind with r and om allocation . No r and omization was performed in respect of breast-feeding or formula-feeding with a folate content of 60–70 μg/l . No significant differences were observed in haemoglobin concentration , haematocrit , weight and length between FA-supplemented and non-supplemented infants . A negative correlation was demonstrated between gestational age and erythrocyte folate ( E-folate ) concentration at 1 week . E-folate content was higher when no supplement was given in breast-fed than in formula-fed infants Elevated plasma homocysteine ( Hcy ) , dyslipidemia and hemorheological abnormalities all occur commonly in end-stage renal disease ( ESRD ) and are recognized risk factors for arteriosclerosis . To study the effect of folate supplementation on these factors we conducted a r and omized controlled trial . Thirteen hemodialysis ( HD ) and 8 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis ( CAPD ) patients received either 5 mg folic acid daily or placebo for 3 months . After 1 and 3 months , fasting blood sample s were taken for Hcy , lipid profile , blood and plasma viscosity , red blood cell ( RBC ) osmotic fragility , plasma fibrinogen concentration and in vivo platelet aggregability . At baseline , the CAPD patients had a higher mean plasma fibrinogen concentration than the HD patients and they also tended to have higher mean plasma viscosity .  Folate-treated patients showed marked increases in RBC folate and an average decrease in plasma Hcy concentration of 33 % . Mean total cholesterol , LDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations decreased significantly in the CAPD patients who took folate . Folate had no significant effect on hemorheology . In conclusion , folate supplements in ESRD reduce plasma Hcy concentrations and may improve lipid profiles . In our patients , hemorheological abnormalities were more marked in patients on CAPD than in those on HD and were not improved by folate supplementation The Aspirin/Folate Polyp Prevention Study is a r and omized , placebo-controlled trial of aspirin use and folic acid supplementation and incidence of colorectal adenomas in individuals with a history of these lesions . The trial showed that folic acid supplementation does not prevent the occurrence of new adenomas and may increase risk . We extend these results by investigating whether the effect of folic acid treatment differed by baseline dietary and circulating folate levels . Diet and supplement use were ascertained at baseline through a food-frequency question naire ; a blood sample was used to determine plasma and RBC folate levels . Individuals were followed for 3 years ( first follow-up ) and subsequently for an additional 3 to 5 years ( second follow up ) . We used generalized linear regression to estimate risk ratios and 95 % confidence limits as measures of association . There was little evidence that baseline dietary and total folate intake , and plasma and RBC folate modified the association between folic acid treatment and risk of any adenomas or advanced lesions . However , there was a protective association of the highest tertile of dietary and total intake as well as circulating folate with risk of any adenomas among those in the placebo group but no association among individuals in the folic acid group . Our findings support the idea that although moderate doses of folate may be protective compared with deficiency , at some point of sufficiency , supplementation provides no additional benefit . ( Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2625–31 BACKGROUND Folate deficiency is associated with depression . Despite the biological plausibility of a causal link , the evidence that adding folate enhances antidepressant treatment is weak . OBJECTIVES ( 1 ) Estimate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of folic acid as adjunct to antidepressant medication ( ADM ) . ( 2 ) Explore whether baseline folate and homocysteine predict response to treatment . ( 3 ) Investigate whether response to treatment depends on genetic polymorphisms related to folate metabolism . DESIGN FolATED ( Folate Augmentation of Treatment - Evaluation for Depression ) was a double-blind and placebo-controlled , but otherwise pragmatic , r and omised trial including cost-utility analysis . To yield 80 % power of detecting st and ardised difference on the Beck Depression Inventory version 2 ( BDI-II ) of 0.3 between groups ( a ' small ' effect ) ,  FolATED trialists sought to analyse 358 participants . To allow for an estimated loss of 21 % of participants over three time points , we planned to r and omise 453 . SETTING S Clinical - Three centres in Wales - North East Wales , North West Wales and Swansea . Trial management - North Wales Organisation for R and omised Trials in Health in Bangor University . Biochemical analysis - University Hospital of Wales , Cardiff . Genetic analysis - University of Liverpool . PARTICIPANTS Four hundred and seventy-five adult patients presenting to primary or secondary care with confirmed moderate to severe depression for which they were taking or about to start ADM , and able to consent and complete assessment s , but not ( 1 ) folate deficient , vitamin B12 deficient , or taking folic acid or anticonvulsants ; ( 2 ) misusing drugs or alcohol , or suffering from psychosis , bipolar disorder , malignancy or other unstable or terminal illness ; ( 3 ) ( planning to become ) pregnant ; or ( 4 ) participating in other clinical research . INTERVENTIONS Once a day for 12 weeks experimental participants added 5 mg of folic acid to their ADM , and control participants added an indistinguishable placebo . All participants followed pragmatic management plans initiated by a trial psychiatrist and maintained by their general medical practitioners . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Assessed at baseline , and 4 , 12 and 25 weeks thereafter , and analysed by ' area under curve ' ( main ) ; by analysis of covariance at each time point ( secondary ) ; and by multi-level repeated measures ( sensitivity analysis ): Mental health - BDI-II ( primary ) , Clinical Global Impression ( CGI ) , Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) , UKU side effects scale , and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview ( MINI ) suicidality subscale ; General health - UK 12-item Short Form Health Survey ( SF-12 ) , European Quality of Life scale - 5 Dimensions ( EQ-5D ) ; Biochemistry - serum folate , B12 , homocysteine ; Adherence - Morisky Question naire ; Economics - re source use . RESULTS Folic acid did not significantly improve any of these measures . For example it gained a mean of just 2.9 quality -adjusted life-days [ 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) from -12.7 to 7.0 days ] and saved a mean of just £ 48 ( 95 % CI from -£292 to £ 389 ) . In contrast it significantly reduced mental health scores on the SF-12 by 3.0 % ( 95 % CI from -5.2 % to -0.8 % ) . CONCLUSIONS The FolATED trial generated no evidence that folic acid was clinical ly effective or cost-effective in augmenting ADM . This negative finding is consistent with improving underst and ing of the one-carbon folate pathway suggesting that methylfolate is a better c and i date for augmenting ADM . Hence the findings of FolATED undermine treatment guidelines that advocate folic acid for treating depression , and suggest future trials of methylfolate to augment ADM . TRIAL REGISTRATION Current Controlled Trials IS RCT N37558856 . FUNDING This project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment ; Vol . 18 , No. 48 . See the HTA programme website for further project information Concern has been raised that iron supplementation for treatment of acute malaria may worsen the severity of malaria . We compared the effect of iron and folate with folate alone on hematologic recovery in children treated for acute malaria . We r and omized 82 children 6 - 60 months of age from Nigeria with smear-positive malaria and anemia ( hematocrit < 33 % ) to receive iron ( 2 mg/kg/day ) plus folate ( 5 mg/day ) or folate alone in addition to antimalarial drugs . The mean ± SD hematocrit at baseline was 28.5 % ± 2.9 % . At four weeks , the mean hematocrit increased by 2.5 % ± 1.6 % in the iron plus folate group and by 1.4 % ± 1.0 % in the folate alone group ( P = 0.001 ) . Baseline hematocrit , iron supplementation , weight for height , and weekly meat intake were significant predictors of final hematocrit . The effect of iron was not significantly modified by baseline hematocrit , weekly meat intake , nutritional status , mother 's education , sex , or age of the child . Iron supplementation  improved hematologic recovery in children with malarial anemia Objectives : To determine the changes since 1996 in knowledge of folate for the prevention of neural tube defects ( NTDs ) among women of child‐bearing age and measure the residual effect of an earlier consumer‐directed information campaign Background Osteoporosis is a major health problem , and the economic burden is expected to rise due to an increase in life expectancy throughout the world . Current observational evidence suggests that an elevated homocysteine concentration and poor vitamin B12 and folate status are associated with an increased fracture risk . As vitamin B12 and folate intake and status play a large role in homocysteine metabolism , it is hypothesized that supplementation with these B-vitamins will reduce fracture incidence in elderly people with an elevated homocysteine concentration . Methods / Design The B-PROOF ( B-Vitamins for the PRevention Of Osteoporotic Fractures ) study is a r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled trial . The intervention comprises a period of two years , and includes 2919 subjects , aged 65 years and older , independently living or institutionalized , with an elevated homocysteine concentration ( ≥ 12 μmol/L ) . One group receives daily a tablet with 500 μg vitamin B12 and 400 μg folic acid and the other group receives a placebo tablet . In both tablets 15 μg ( 600 IU ) vitamin D is included . The primary outcome of the study is osteoporotic fractures . Measurements are performed at baseline and after two years and cover bone health i.e. bone mineral density and bone turnover markers , physical performance and physical activity including falls , nutritional intake and status , cognitive function , depression , genetics and quality of life . This large multi-center project is carried out by a consortium from the Erasmus MC ( Rotterdam , the Netherl and s ) , VUmc ( Amsterdam , the Netherl and s ) and Wageningen University , ( Wageningen , the Netherl and s ) , the latter acting as coordinator . Discussion To our best knowledge , the B-PROOF study is the first intervention study in which the effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on osteoporotic fractures is studied in a general elderly population . We expect the first longitudinal results of the B-PROOF intervention in the second semester of 2013 . The results of this intervention will provide evidence on the efficacy of vitamin B12 and folate supplementation in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures . Trial Registration The B-PROOF study is registered with the Netherl and s Trial ( NTR NTR1333 ) and with Clinical Trials.gov ( NCT00696514 ) Daily folic acid ( FA ) supplementation improves folate status , lowers circulating homocysteine ( Hcy ) concentrations , and reduces the risk of neural tube defects . Little is known about the efficacy of weekly FA supplementation . The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of weekly and daily FA supplementations in improving folate and vitamin B-12 status and lowering Hcy concentrations in healthy reproductive-aged women . A r and omized , double-blind supplementation trial was conducted in Guatemala . A total of 459 women were assigned r and omly to 4 groups to receive weekly ( 5000 or 2800 microg ) or daily ( 400 or 200 microg ) FA for 12 wk . Daily and weekly iron , zinc , and vitamin B-12 were also provided . We determined serum and RBC folate by microbiological assays , but the latter was available only at baseline . Serum Hcy and vitamin B-12 were also measured . We used generalized linear regression models to assess the effects of treatment on biochemical indicators . Supplementation improved folate status similarly across all 4 groups . Overall , mean serum folate concentrations increased by 15.4 nmol/L ( 95 % CI : 13.8 , 16.9 ) and the geometric mean serum Hcy concentration decreased by 9.8 % ( 95 % CI : -12.3 , -7.1 ) . Daily supplementation improved serum vitamin B-12 by 20 % ( 95 % CI : 8 , 33.2 ) , whereas weekly supplementation had no effect . In conclusion , weekly FA ( either high or low dose ) plus vitamin B-12 may be as efficacious as daily supplementation in improving serum folate and lowering Hcy concentrations in healthy women of reproductive age BACKGROUND Low folate and raised homocysteine concentrations in blood are associated with poor cognitive performance in the general population . As part of the FACIT trial to assess the effect of folic acid on markers of atherosclerosis in men and women aged 50 - 70 years with raised plasma total homocysteine and normal serum vitamin B12 at screening , we report here the findings for the secondary endpoint : the effect of folic acid supplementation on cognitive performance . METHODS Our r and omised , double blind , placebo controlled study took place between November , 1999 , and December , 2004 , in the Netherl and s. We r and omly assigned 818 participants 800 mug daily oral folic acid or placebo for 3 years . The effect on cognitive performance was measured as the difference between the two groups in the 3-year change in performance for memory , sensorimotor speed , complex speed , information processing speed , and word fluency . Analysis was by intention-to-treat . This trial is registered with clinical trials.gov with trial number NCT00110604 . FINDINGS Serum folate concentrations increased by 576 % ( 95 % CI 539 to 614 ) and plasma total homocysteine concentrations decreased by 26 % ( 24 to 28 ) in participants taking folic acid compared with those taking placebo . The 3-year change in memory ( difference in Z scores 0.132 , 95 % CI 0.032 to 0.233 ) , information processing speed ( 0.087 , 0.016 to 0.158 ) and sensorimotor speed ( 0.064 , -0.001 to 0.129 ) were significantly better in the folic acid group than in the placebo group . INTERPRETATION Folic acid supplementation for 3 years significantly improved domains of cognitive function that tend to decline with age OBJECTIVES : Dietary folate intake is inversely associated with the risk of colorectal cancer . This study investigated the effect of folate supplementation on genomic DNA methylation and DNA str and breaks in exons 5–8 of the p53 gene of the colonic mucosa , two provisional biomarkers of colon cancer . METHODS : Twenty subjects with adenomas were r and omized to receive either folate ( 5 mg/day ) or placebo for 1 yr after polypectomy . At baseline , 6 months and 1 yr , systemic and colonic measures of folate status were determined , as were the biomarkers mentioned earlier . RESULTS : Folate supplementation increased serum , red blood cell and colonic mucosal folate concentrations ( p < 0.02 ) . Folate supplementation also increased the extent of genomic DNA methylation at 6 months and 1 yr ( p = 0.001 ) , whereas placebo administration was associated with an increase in the extent of genomic DNA methylation only at 1 yr . Similarly , folate supplementation decreased the extent of p53 str and breaks in exons 5–8 at 6 months and 1 yr ( p < 0.02 ) , whereas placebo administration was associated with a decrease in the extent of p53 str and breaks only at 1 yr . CONCLUSIONS : Both of these provisional biomarkers of colon cancer underwent accelerated improvement at 6 months with folate supplementation . However , these markers also improved with placebo at 1 yr . Therefore , potential confounding factors that seem to modulate these biomarkers need to be identified and corrected in order for these markers to serve as suitable surrogate endpoints in folate chemoprevention trials A former double-blind study evaluated the effect of a 14-day period of systemic and topical folate supplementation on  gingival inflammation during pregnancy ( Pack & Thomson 1980 ) . The current experiment was similar to the earlier one except that supplementation was for 28 days during the eighth month only . Thirty women during their 32nd week of pregnancy were r and omly divided into three equal groups . Control Group A received placebo mouthwash ( MW ) and placebo tablets ; Group B received placebo MW and one 5 mg folate tablet daily ; Group C received placebo tablets and rinsed with folate MW twice daily for 1 min . At the beginning and end of the experimental period , oral status was determined using a plaque index ( PlI ) and a gingival index ( GI ) . Each subject furnished a 1-week diet record which was analysed for dietary folate . No differences in parameters existed between groups at the commencement of the study except for folate levels which were lower in Group B. Results confirmed the findings of the former experiment . Group C showed highly significant improvement in GI despite no significant changes in PlI ( 0.001 less than P less than 0.01 ) , whilst in Group B , changes in gingival health were not statistically significant ( 0.05 less than P less than 0.10 ) . No significant changes were demonstrated in Group A. Folate levels increased significantly in Groups B and C. Dietary folate was similar in all groups The effect of suboptimal folate nutrtion on the growing infant was studied in a population of infants fed a diet based on boiled , pasteurised cows ' milk . One group of infants received a daily supplement of 1 mg folic acid from age 2 months , while the other group received a placebo . The infants were seen at bimonthly intervals . In the supplemented group the red cell folate level had increased to twice its pretreatment value by 4 months , and remained at this high level to the end of the first year . Hb concentration and incidence of anaemia were similar in both groups . The incidence of infection in the two groups did not differ . Weights and lengths attained at 6 months , and the rate of gain from 2 to 6 months were higher in infants whose folate levels were above the median value than in those below it . In the second half of the first year the differences between the two groups were no longer evident A r and omized controlled double-blind trial was undertaken in south Wales to prevent the recurrence of  neural-tube defects in women who had had one child with a neural-tube defect . Sixty women were allocated before conception to take 4 mg of folic acid a day before and during early pregnancy and 44 complied with these instructions . Fifty-one women were allocated to placebo treatment . There were no recurrences among the compliant mothers but two among the non-compliers and four among the women in the placebo group . Thus there were no recurrences among those who received supplementation and six among those who did not ; this difference is significant ( p = 0.04 ) . It is concluded that folic acid supplementation might be a cheap , safe , and effective method of primary prevention of neural-tube defects but that this must be confirmed in a large , multicentre trial Population -based studies report differences in folate status indicators among Mexican American ( MA ) , African American ( AA ) and Caucasian ( CA ) women . It is unclear , however , whether these differences are due to variations in dietary folate intake . The present study was design ed to investigate the influence of ethnicity/race on folate status parameters in MA , AA , and CA women ( 18 - 45 y ; n = 14 in each group ) under conditions of strictly controlled folate intake . In addition , the adequacy of the 1998 folate U.S. recommended dietary allowance ( RDA ) , 400 micro g/d as dietary folate equivalents ( DFE ) , for non-Caucasian women was assessed . Subjects ( n = 42 ) with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 CC genotype consumed a low-folate diet ( 135 micro g DFE/d ) for 7 wk followed by repletion with 400 ( 7 MA , 7 AA , 7 CA ) or 800 micro g DFE/d ( 7 MA , 7 AA , 7 CA ) for 7 wk . AA women had lower ( P < /= 0.05 ) blood folate concentrations and excreted less ( P < /= 0.05 ) urinary folate throughout folate depletion and repletion with 400 and /or 800 micro g DFE/d compared with MA and /or CA women . MA women had lower ( P < /= 0.05 ) plasma total homocysteine ( tHcy ) throughout folate depletion and during repletion with 400 micro g DFE/d relative to the other ethnic/racial groups . Repletion with the 1998 folate U.S. RDA led to normal blood folate and plasma tHcy for all 3 ethnic/racial groups . Collectively , these data demonstrate that ethnicity/race is an important determinant of folate status under conditions of strictly controlled dietary folate intake and support the adequacy of the 1998 folate U.S. RDA for the 3 largest ethnic/racial groups in the United States Background Behavior Change Communications ( BCC ) play a decisive role in modifying socio-cultural norms affecting the perception and nutritional practice s during pregnancy . Objective To examine the effectiveness of ‘ Trials of Improved Practice s ’ ( TIPs ) on dietary and iron-folate intake during pregnancy . Design Community based quasi experimental study with a control group Setting Four villages of Chiraigaon Community Development Block of Varanasi , India from May 2010 and recruited from August 2010 . End line assessment , after 12 weeks of intervention , was completed in April 2011 . Participants Pregnant women in 13–28 weeks of gestation Intervention  TIPs was implemented in addition to ongoing essential obstetric care services in two villages through 3 home ( assessment , negotiation and evaluation ) visits and only assessment and evaluation visits in the other two control villages . Interpersonal communication , endorsing the active participation of family members and home based reminder material s were the TIPs based strategies . The effect of TIPs was assessed by comparing key outcome variables at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention . Outcome Measures Hemoglobin% , anemia prevalence , weight gain , compliance for iron-folate supplementation and dietary intake of calorie , protein , calcium and iron . Results A total of 86 participants completed the study . At the end , mean hemoglobin levels were 11.5±1.24 g/dl and 10.37±1.38 g/dl in the TIPs and control groups , respectively . The prevalence of anemia reduced by half in TIPs group and increased by 2.4 % in the control group . Weight gain ( grams/week ) was significantly ( p<0.01 ) higher in TIPs group ( 326.9±91.8 vs. 244.6±97.4 ) . More than 85 % of the PW in TIPs group were compliant for Iron-folate and only 38 % were compliant among controls . The mean intake of protein increased by 1.78gm in intervention group and decreased by 1.81 gm in controls ( p<0.05 ) . More than two thirds of PW in TIPs group were taking one extra meal and only one third of controls were doing the same . Conclusion TIPs found to be an effective approach to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women in the study area . TIPs strategy could be further explored on larger sample representing different socio-cultural and geographical areas . Trial Registration Clinical Trial Registry of India
We conclude that both serum and erythrocyte folate values reflect folate intake ; however , serum folate reacts more rapidly to folate intake than erythrocyte folate .
As to health outcomes , we found no evidence indicating that additional intake of folate can influence haematological parameters in non-anaemic paediatric patients .
We were unable to find evidence of a favourable effect of folate supplementation on the growth of infants .
However , the limited data available suggest that supplementing the diet of low-birth-weight infants with folic acid may moderate the rapid fall of serum and red cell folate in the first months of life
The aim of this systematic review was to collect all available r and omized controlled trials on the effect of folate supplementation on folate status and health outcomes within the paediatric age group .