POSTPARTUM FOLIO ACID SUPPLEMENTATION OF ADOLESCENTS - IMPACT ON MATERNAL FOLATE AND ZINC STATUS AND MILK-COMPOSITION

The objectives of the present study were to assess the impact of lacta tion on the folate status of adolescents and determine the effect of i ngestion of a low-dose postpartum (PP) folic acid supplement on matern al folate and zinc status and milk composition. Pregnant adolescents ( aged 14-19 y; n = 71) were recruited; those who initiated breast-feedi ng on delivery were randomly assigned to a folic acid supplement lacta ting (SL; 300 mu g/d, n = 14) group or to a placebo lactating (PL; n = 15) group. Subjects who initiated formula feeding were given a placeb o (FF; n = 18). Dietary intakes (two 24-h recalls) were recorded and b lood and milk samples were collected at 4, 8, and 12 wk PP. Of the ado lescents, 71%, 48%, 67%, and 60% had folate, iron, vitamin B-12, and z inc intakes, respectively, below their predicted requirements. Despite this, most blood indexes were within normal ranges, probably reflecti ng the subjects' use of supplements during pregnancy. Red blood cell ( r = - 0.49, P < 0.05) and plasma (r = - 0.42, P = 0.08) folate concent rations were negatively correlated with milk zinc concentrations. Mean red blood cell folate content declined between 4 and 12 wk PP among P L (31%) and FF (34%) subjects (P < 0.05) but not among SL subjects. He nce, 300 mu g folic acid/d was sufficient to prevent a decline in bloo d folate values of these adolescents PP.