Efecto de la administración semanal de ácido fólico sobre los valores sanguíneos

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the effect of weekly administration of 5 mg. folic acid (FA) intake on folic acid blood levels. Material and methods. This concurrent comparative study was conducted in 1998, in urban and rural areas of Nuevo Leon State, Mexico. The study population consisted of 74 women who delivered a child during 1997, 39 of whom had a child with a neural tube defect. Women were given 5 mg. of folic acid, weekly for 3 months. Blood levels of folic acid were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at baseline, and a week after taking the last folic acid dose. Data are presented as means and standard deviations. Results. Ninety per cent of the women had significantly increased folic acid intraerythrocytary blood levels. Red cell folate increased from 150.49 ± 31.17 ng/ml to 184.21 ± 35.53 ng/ml (p<0.005). Plasma folate increased from 5.93 ± 1.98 ng/ml a 7.03 ± 2.5 ng/ml (p<0.05). Eighty-two per cent of women reached intracellular levels above 160 ng/ml. Conclusions. The weekly administration of folic acid is a simple and efficient method that could be used to supplement this vitamin to low-income populations.