Folic acid deficiency and prematurity

Serum folate levels were serially determined in 57 premature infants from birth to 7 months of age. Twenty-four normal children and 21 normal adults served as controls. The mean value of folate activity was significantly lowest between 1 and 3 months of age. The values at 3 to 5 months of age approximated the normal controls and were coincident with the administration of adequate dietary folic acid. Twenty-eight per cent of the total number of premature infants and 68 per cent of those infants who weighed less than 1,700 grams at birth had low folate levels. Of interest is the fact that the premature infants with SFA deficiency failed to exhibit any significant hematologic responses to folinic acid. The unequivocal use of folic acid supplementation should be held in abeyance until absorption studies are completed.