Folic acid status in premature infants.

Abstract

Twenty premature infants born in London were followed during the 1st 8 months of life in order to compare various parameters related to folic acid metabolism with those of full-term infants. It was found that whereas both groups started their neonatal life with high serum and whole blood folate levels, two-thirds of premature infants showed some evidence of folate deficiency by the age of 2 to 3 months. The 3 premature infants with lowest hemoglobin levels had a marked erythropoietic response to folic acid. Low folate stores are primarily due to an inadequate intake.