Red blood cell folate concentrations in term newborns: recent findings in the Slovak Republic

Abstract

Folate plays one of the most important functions for nucleotide biosynthesis and cellular methylation reactions in cells. Folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism is essential for metabolic processes in the human body. During periods of rapid cell growth, such as perinatal period, increased amounts of folate are required. The determination of red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration levels is the most accurate indicator of long-term folate level status in the body. This prospective study determined RBC folate concentration levels on the first day of life from umbilical cord blood samples in the whole group of full-term newborns (n = 150), who were hospitalized at the Department of Neonatology at the University Hospital in Bratislava. Immunochemical analysis for the determination of folate levels in erythrocytes was performed (Roche Diagnostics, Germany). Mothers were asked to select different types of food and use folic acid or other multivitamin supplements containing also folic acid. Our results of RBC folate ranged from 625 to 1748 ng/mL (5th–95th percentile). The median was 935 ng/mL and deficiency was not observed in any sample. RBC folate concentration levels in newborns due to mother’s intake of multivitamin supplements were significantly increased (p = 0.02). No differences were observed in the levels of RBC folate concentration when mothers used only folic acid. The RBC folate concentration tended to change based on many factors on both the mother’s and the newborn’s sides. Our results showed different results of RBC folate when focused on neonatal period and maternal intake of vitamins during pregnancy.