Plasma and Red Blood Cell Folate in Breastfed Infants

Ek, Johan; Magnus, Erik M.

doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.1979.tb04995.x

Cited by 36 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The folate content in breast milk is relatively independent of maternal folate status (32)(33)(34), and breastfed infants are usually well protected against folate deficiency (18,31,35). The bioavailability of folate from breast milk is high, possibly beause of the folate-binding protein, which may facilitate absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (36 -40).…”

Section: Folatementioning

confidence: 99%

Folate and cobalamin status in relation to breastfeeding and weaning in healthy infants

Hay

Johnston

Whitelaw

et al. 2008

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Folate and cobalamin status changes markedly during infancy. Objective: We aimed to examine the influence of breastfeeding on folate and cobalamin status in healthy infants. Design: In a longitudinal study, we measured serum folate, cobalamin, holotranscobalamin, holohaptocorrin, methylmalonic acid, and homocysteine at birth and at ages 6, 12, and 24 mo (n ҃ 361, 262, 244, and 224, respectively). Breastfeeding status and nutrient intake were assessed by using questionnaires and 7-d weighed-food records (at 12 mo). Results: All indexes changed significantly from birth to age 24 mo (P 0.001). Folate was high until age 6 mo and then declined. At age 6 mo, folate was positively correlated with duration of exclusive breastfeeding ( ҃ 0.29; P 0.001). Cobalamin status declined after birth in breastfed but increased in nonbreastfed infants. Thus, holotranscobalamin (pmol/L) was lower in breastfed than in nonbreastfed children at age 6 mo [geometric x : 37 (95% CI: 33, 40) and 74 (64, 86), respectively], at 12 mo [51 (46, 56) and 76 (70, 82), respectively], and at 24 mo [65 (50, 83) and 90 (85, 97), respectively; P 0.05 for all]. Complementary feeding did not increase (6 mo) or modestly increased (12 mo) cobalamin status in breastfed children. At 12 mo, cobalamin intake (g/d), excluding breast milk cobalamin, was lower in breastfed than in nonbreastfed infants [geometric x : 1.4 (1.3, 1.6) and 2.4 (2.1, 2.6), respectively; P 0.001]. However, after adjustment for total cobalamin intake, cobalamin status (ie, holotranscobalamin) remained significantly lower in breastfed than in nonbreastfed infants [54 (49, 59) and 70 (64, 78), respectively; P 0.001]. Conclusions: Low cobalamin status is a characteristic finding in breastfed children. Reference limits according to age and breastfeeding status should be considered in early childhood.

show abstract

Section: Folatementioning

confidence: 99%

Folate and cobalamin status in relation to breastfeeding and weaning in healthy infants

Hay

Johnston

Whitelaw

et al. 2008

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An increased transfer of folate to the fetus during the last weeks of pregnancy [2] results in higher red cell folate in both preterm and full-term infants compared to adults [3][4][5] . In studies done in the 1970s and 1980s, this high folate concentration was sustained in breastfed term infants [3] but fell significantly in the first 2-3 months of life in preterm infants regardless of the mode of feeding [4] . This led to the recommendation of routine supplementation of preterm infants with folic acid to prevent deficiency [6] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Red Cell Folate and Plasma Homocysteine in Preterm Infants

Samanth

Misra²,

Gordon³

et al. 2007

Neonatology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The supplementation of preterm infants with folic acid is routine practice in many neonatal units. However, the advent of preterm formula milks and breast milk fortifiers have increased folic acid intake. We measured red cell folate in preterm infants who received preterm formula milks and breast milk fortifiers to determine whether additional folic acid supplementation was still required. A potential benefit of folic acid supplementation is reduction of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy). tHcy appears to have a linear association with the risk of atherothrombotic vascular events in adults but its role in intraventricular haemorrhage and associated white matter damage in preterm infants is not known. As there is little information regarding tHcy in preterm infants, we also measured tHcy in this study. Methods: Red cell folate and tHcy were measured at 1 and 4 weeks of age and before discharge in 28 consecutive infants <34 weeks’ gestation. Factors which may have affected folate and homocysteine status were recorded. Results:Red cell folate ranged between 266 and 1,513 ng/ml and deficiency (<140 ng/ml) was not observed in any sample. Red cell folate concentration tended to increase with increasing age. tHcy ranged from 0.8 to 12.2 µmol/l and fell within the ‘normal’ range for fasting adults. Conclusions: Preterm formula milks and breast milk fortifiers provide sufficient folic acid to prevent folate deficiency in preterm infants. Although tHcy fell within the ‘normal’ range for fasting adults, more research is needed to determine optimal concentration of tHcy for preterm infants.

show abstract

“…Levels in breast milk seem to be relatively resistant to maternal supplements although the response is somewhat better if the mother is malnourished (Deodhar et al 1964;Thomas et al 1980;Sneed et al 1981). Neither clinical deficiency nor low values for biochemical indices of folate status have been reported for breast fed infants born at term (Ek & Magnus 1979;Salmenpera et al 1986). …”

Section: Folatementioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamin requirements for term infants: considerations for infant formulae

Powers

1997

Nutr. Res. Rev.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective. To provide the informed health professional with an up to date evaluation of the current thinking regarding requirements for vitamins in infant feeds. Establishing criteria for adequacy. Vitamin adequacy in the neonate is currently defined in terms of circulating levels of a vitamin or of the activity of a vitamin dependent enzyme in the erythrocytes. Although these measurements have their value there is a need to develop biochemical, physiological or clinical markers of well defined specific function. For some vitamins there is a risk of deleterious effects of very high intakes: risk of toxicity needs to be taken into consideration when making recommendations for inclusion in infant formulae. Breast milk as the 'gold standard'. Breast milk concentrations of vitamins have been used as the criteria of adequate intake by neonates. This may not always be justified. Greater consideration needs to be given to differences in bioavailability of vitamins from breast milk compared with formula feeds, of the influence of season, and of stage of lactation, on the stated composition. Experimental approaches. Animal studies have provided limited information regarding effects of different levels of intakes on current status indices in the neonatal period. There are few reports of randomized controlled studies into the effects of different levels of vitamins and these rely heavily on biochemical criteria of adequacy. Recent developments. The inclusion of fl-carotene into formula feeds for premature babies is an issue of current interest. What is the justification for this? Are there potential benefits for the term infant? Riboflavin deficiency in the period around weaning may affect the normal structural and functional development of the gastrointestinal tract; some. of these effects may be permanent. Research to be done. A greater understanding of the absorption and metabolism of vitamins during infancy is required in order to help establish dietary requirements. The relative bioavailability of vitamins in human milk and formulae needs to be investigated. Criteria for vitamin adequacy should be extended to include measures of function. Information regarding the conversion factor from tryptophan to niacin in infancy would allow us to set niacin requirements with greater confidence. There is a particular lack of information about concentrations of biotin and pantothenic acid in breast milk and the relative biochemical status of infants receiving breast milk and formulae. Benefits of including fi-carotene into infant formulae need to be evaluated. The role of individual micronutrients in the structural and functional development of the gastrointestinal tract should be explored.

show abstract

Plasma and Red Blood Cell Folate in Breastfed Infants

Cited by 36 publications

References 21 publications

Folate and cobalamin status in relation to breastfeeding and weaning in healthy infants

Folate and cobalamin status in relation to breastfeeding and weaning in healthy infants

Red Cell Folate and Plasma Homocysteine in Preterm Infants

Vitamin requirements for term infants: considerations for infant formulae

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About