Studies on Folic Acid in Infancy

Abstract

Total folate (Lactobacillus casei assay) and folinic acid (Pediococcus cerevisiae assay) have been assayed in blood of breast fed infants, in blood and milk of lactating mothers and in samples of cow’s milk. Total folate activity in breast fed infants was significantly higher than in a comparable group of artificially fed infants. Total folate activity in the mothers was considerably lower than in their babies or in normal adults. Reduced folate levels were significantly higher in breast fed infants than in their mothers, in artificially fed infants or in normal adults. Native cow’s milk is at least as rich in folates as breast milk. However, following heat treatment, a considerable proportion of folate activity is lost. Since heat in various forms is applied to cow’s milk prior to its use for infant feeding, dietary intake of folate is lower in artificially fed infants than in breast fed infants. The low folate levels in the mothers can be accounted for at least in part by the drain on folate reserves imposed by lactation, which is of the order of 20 µg. per day.