FOLATE AND IRON STATUS OF NONANEMIC WOMEN DURING PREGNANCY - EFFECT OF ROUTINE FOLATE AND IRON SUPPLEMENTATION AND RELATION OF ERYTHROCYTE FOLATE WITH IRON STORES

The possible benefits of routine iron (80-160 mg/d) and combined folat e (2-4 mg/d) and iron (80-160 mg/d) supplementation during pregnancy o n both nutrient status and the relation of folate indices with iron st ores were evaluated in a cohort of non-anemic healthy pregnant women ( n=74). Mean levels of plasma and erythrocyte folate were adequate, did not decrease during pregnancy and further improved with the use of fo late supplements, with long lasting effects up to 2-3 months post part um Exclusive iron supplementation did not affect folate indices. Altho ugh mean plasma ferritin levels were adequate throughout the study, th ey decreased during pregnancy and the frequency of depleted iron reser ves (plasma ferritin < 12 mu g/l) increased regardless the use of iron supplements. However, iron supplementation was effective in maintaini ng adequate circulating plasma iron during pregnancy and was possibly beneficial for the recovery of iron stores post partum Plasma ferritin and erythrocyte folate levels were correlated in the second and third trimesters but not in the first trimester or in the post partum The w omen with iron depleted reserves in the third trimester, either supple mented or not with folate, presented lower erythrocyte folate levels t han the non-depleted women in this period, in spite of a similar dieta ry folate intake. Also, erythrocyte folate levels in the women with de pleted iron reserves tended to be less responsive to folate supplement ation and, in the case of no folate supplementation, showed a decrease in comparison with the beginning of pregnancy. Our results suggest th at a relation between erythrocyte folate and iron stores might occur i n periods of high simultaneous demand for both nutrients and increased erythropoiesis such as pregnancy.