Abstract
We have studied the effect of oral contraceptives on folate metabolism, in order to test the hypothesis that folate deficiency of pregnant women may be partly due to impairment of folate metabolism. Serum folate, red cell folate, and urinary excretion of formiminoglutamic acid (FIGLU) were determined in 176 women receiving combination-type oral contraceptives (the Pill) and 140 normal control subjects. The group taking the Pill had significantly lower serum and red cell folate and higher urinary FIGLU excretion. There was a rise in serum and red cell folate and a fall of urinary FIGLU excretion within 3 months after stopping the Pill. The data demonstrate that women taking the Pill may have impaired folate metabolism and suggest that sex hormones may play a role in the development of folate deficiency in pregnancy.
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