The effectiveness of daily supplementation with 400 or 800 µg/day folate in reaching protective red blood folate concentrations in non-pregnant women: a randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Folate required to achieve desirable red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations within 4-8 weeks pre-pregnancy is not known. We studied the effect of supplementation with 400 or 800 µg/day folate in achieving RBC-folate ≥906 nmol/L.

Methods

Non-pregnant women were randomized to receive multinutrient supplements containing 400 µg/day (n = 100) or 800 µg/day (n = 101) folate [folic acid and (6S)-5-CH₃-H₄folate-Ca (1:1)]. The changes of folate biomarkers were studied after 4 and 8 weeks in the 198 women who returned at least for visit 2.

Results

At baseline, 12 of the 198 participants (6.1%) had RBC-folate <340 nmol/L, but 88% had levels <906 nmol/L. The RBC-folate concentrations increased significantly in the 800 µg/day (mean ± SD = 652 ± 2

SUBMITTER: Obeid R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6060806 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature