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SERUM FOLIC ACID LEVELS AND PREGNANCY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA: A STUDY OF THE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW SERUM FOLIC ACID LEVELS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO RACIAL GROUPS AND LACTATION
Author(s) -
Cole J. K.,
Kimber R. J.,
Kutkaite D.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1974.tb50809.x
Subject(s) - medicine , folic acid , pregnancy , lactation , physiology , breast feeding , breast milk , cord blood , endocrinology , pediatrics , biology , biochemistry , genetics
A number of hematological investigations were carried out for 147 pregnant women, including serum folic acid levels estimated during the third trimester. As shown in other studies, the serum folic acid levels were lower than in normal non‐pregnant subjects and 26·5% of the subjects had levels below the normal range. There was no positive evidence that dietary deficiency contributed to this fall. When the subjects were divided into various racial groups it was found that females from the Mediterranean area (Greeks and Italians) did not show such a pronounced fall in serum folate levels. This may be related to a high intake of folate‐rich foods. The very high levels in the cord blood at delivery suggest that folic acid required by the developing fetus is the main factor in the fall in the maternal levels. The estimations were repeated six weeks after delivery and there was generally a rise in the serum folic acid levels to normal at this time. A careful analysis of the effect of breast feeding on serum folate levels was performed. Twenty‐seven per cent of the mothers breast fed their infants for three weeks or longer. Breast feeding did not prevent or apparently slow down the ability of the mother to regain normal serum folic acid levels.