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Effect of folic acid supplementation on small-for-gestational-age infants born at term

  • Nutrition
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Abstract

The effect of 250 μg folic acid (FA)/day or placebo given to 21 small-for-gestational-age infants born at term was studied during the first 3 months of life. The design of the study was double blind with random allocation. No randomization was performed in respect of breast-feeding or formula-feeding with a folate content of 60–70 μg/l. No significant differences were observed in haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, weight and length between FA-supplemented and non-supplemented infants. A negative correlation was demonstrated between gestational age and erythrocyte folate (E-folate) concentration at 1 week. E-folate content was higher when no supplement was given in breast-fed than in formula-fed infants.

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Abbreviations

E-folate:

erythrocyte folate

FA:

folic acid

SGA:

small-for-gestational age

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Foged, N., Lillquist, K., Rolschau, J. et al. Effect of folic acid supplementation on small-for-gestational-age infants born at term. Eur J Pediatr 149, 65–67 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02024339

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02024339

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