Declining levels of erythrocyte folate during the postpartum period among Hispanic women living on the Texas-Mexico border

Hispanic women have higher parity and shorter interbirth intervals than wom en of other ethnic groups. Thus, they are more likely to become pregnant re latively soon after giving birth, which may place these women at risk of lo w or deficient levels of specific nutrients. Folic acid is of particular co ncern because recent studies suggest that maternal use of folic acid supple ments may be associated with better reproductive outcomes. The purpose of t his study was to assess folic acid levels in postpartum Hispanic women. Usi ng a cross-sectional design, we measured erythrocyte folate values for 188 low-income Hispanic women 1-12 months postpartum who were receiving service s at the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics in El Paso, Texas. An i nterview was administered to collect information on diet, vitamin use, and method of infant feeding. Mean erythrocyte folate levels decreased from >13 00 ng/ml during the first 4 months postpartum to a low of 1017 ng/ml by 12 months postpartum, for an overall decrease of approximately 23% (p = 0.004) . Use of postpartum vitamin supplements was significantly associated with h igher folate levels. However, only 35% of mothers used vitamins beyond 1 mo nth postpartum. Study results suggest that these mothers may be at risk of developing low or deficient levels of folic acid during the postpartum peri od. Educational campaigns targeting these women as well as other groups of postpartum women should encourage them to comply with the U.S. Public Healt h Service recommendation that women of childbearing age consume 0.4 mg of f olic acid daily.