Amount of folic acid in different types of nutrition used in the neonatal period

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Folic acid is one of the important supplements for adequate development during pregnancy. A higher intake of folic acid during pregnancy and lactation is recommended. METHODS: In prospective study the group of premature newborns (n = 52) and the type of nutrition were observed. The red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration levels were determined in the fi rst 24 hours after delivery, before and after oral treatment with folic acid (100 μg/day). Immunochemical analysis for the determination of folate in erythrocytes was performed. RESULTS: In the group of premature newborns the RBC folate concentration levels after treatment were significantly increased (p < 0.0001). A dynamic increase in the concentration levels of folates in erythrocytes before and after treatment was observed, in spite of the reciprocally decreasing blood count parameters, but without any statistically signifi cant correlation. The infant nutrition before treatment contained signifi cantly higher amount of folic acid in fortifi ed breast milk compared to breast milk (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The various types of nutrition for preterm newborns contain a different amount of folic acid. It poses a question of real needs of these patients. The best way to determine the optimal whole amount of folate is to know the real levels of folate in premature newborns (Tab. 2, Fig. 5, Ref. 26). Text in PDF www.elis.sk. KEY WORDS: folic acid, breast milk, milk fortifi er, preterm formula milks, neonatal nutrition.

Drug usage analysis in pregnant women

“…In the I. trimester, the most frequently used supplement was folic acid, which is important for adequate fetal development during the prenatal period. Its clear importance in pregnancy lies in the process of developing the brain and the nervous system, especially in the prevention of neural tube defects (22). In Slovakia, 5 per 10,000 live-born children are affected by congenital malformations of the central nervous system.…”

Anencephaly in Slovakia and Czech Republic: embryogenesis, risk factors, epidemiology and preventative approaches

“…Although in our circumstances, pregnant women do not typically suffer from a quantitative or qualitative vitamin deficiency, in the area of vitamin supplementation, it is essential to emphasize the beneficial impact of using FA. Numerous studies have demonstrated that this substance decreases the risk of NTDs by up to 72% (4,(103)(104)(105)116). Dietary supplementation with FA is recommended for all pregnant women in the amount of 0.4 mg per day (106) or 4 mg daily after a previously affected pregnancy (107).…”

Exact determination of optimal nutritional composition for at-risk newborns tolerating enteral intake–breast milk analysis as a routine future standard in neonatal care

“…By analysing the breast milk, we are able to optimize newborn enteral nutrition with fortifi ers. Apart from the macronutrients, fortifi ers contain other components such as folic acid (7). In addition to the determination of macronu-trients in human milk, clinical practice would benefi t also from the detection of micronutrients (trace elements and vitamins) in human milk.…”