THE SERUM AND RED CELL FOLATE LEVELS IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN BEIJING

The serum and red cell folate concentrations in 225 pregnant women living in Beijing area were microbiologically assayed with Lactobacillus casei.There was evidence that the folate levels of late pregnant women, either normal or anemic, were reduced.Folate deficiency, judged by subnormal red cell folate (190 ng/ml), occurred in about 10% of the pregnant women at term. It is suggested that prophylactic folic acid supplement should be taken during pregnancy.