Acute Folate Deficiency Associated with Intravenous Nutrition with Aminoacid-Sorbitol-Ethanol: Prophylaxis with Intravenous Folic Acid

Abstract
Preoperative folate levels were initially normal in 30 patients with gastrointestinal tract disease but fell within 48 h by 60-95% in 20 patients who received i.v. nutrition for 6-12 days with amino acid-sorbitol-ethanol (ASE). This depression persisted in patients not given folate supplements. Folate levels in 10 control patients not given ASE showed only minimal decline. Hematological changes were reduced to a minimum in 10 patients given 0.5 mg i.v. folic acid daily, while 8 unsupplemented patients showed evidence of megaloblastic hemopoiesis. Three of these 8 patients developed thrombocytopenia and/or leukopenia which was fatal in 1 patient.