Effect of folic acid supplement on birth weights of infants
Iyengar, L.; Rajalakshmi, K.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 122(3): 332-336
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9378 PMID: 1130456 DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(75)90179-9Document Number: 519295
Between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation pregnant women of low-income groups in India were matched for height and parity and given 60 mg Fe as ferrous fumarate alone or with 500 mu g folic acid as a single tablet daily, initially for 1 week, but later at monthly and 2-week intervals depending on stage of gestation; the women were examined monthly until 32 weeks of gestation, once every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and weekly thereafter until delivery. The effect of the folic acid supplements on birthweights was greater in first-born infants. The incidence of small-for-dates births in the group given Fe and folacin supplements was half that in the group given Fe alone. The height of the mother made no significant difference to the effect of the folacin supplement. In the folacin-supplemented group improvement in birthweights was associated with an increase in placental size, cell number and protein content.
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