Status of folate in healthy children in Almeria
Autor: | Francisco Lendinez-Molinos, Jose Eugenio Cabrera-Sevilla, Antonio Bonillo-Perales, Iciar García-Escobar, María A Vázquez-López, Sara Gómez-Bueno, María Ortiz Pérez |
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Rok vydání: | 2020 |
Předmět: |
Vitamin
medicine.medical_specialty Percentile Physiology Folic Acid Deficiency 03 medical and health sciences chemistry.chemical_compound 0302 clinical medicine Serum folate Folic Acid 030225 pediatrics Bayesian multivariate linear regression Epidemiology Medicine Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Vitamin B12 Child Socioeconomic status business.industry Vitamin B 12 Deficiency Micronutrient Vitamin B 12 Cross-Sectional Studies chemistry Pediatrics Perinatology and Child Health business |
Zdroj: | European journal of pediatrics. 180(6) |
ISSN: | 1432-1076 |
Popis: | The objective of this study is to establish reference values for folic acid in a healthy population of children aged 4-11 years and to examine related epidemiological, dietary and analytical factors. A cross-sectional study of 658 healthy children aged 4-11 years was made. Epidemiological, socioeconomic and dietary variables were analysed, the BMI Z-score was obtained, levels of serum folate and serum vitamin B12 were determined and haematological, iron status and erythropoietic activity parameters were examined. The study data were analysed by non-parametric tests and linear multiple regression. The mean folate value was 8.6 ± 4.6 ng/mL (95% reference interval: 2.8-20 ng/mL). A level < 3 ng/mL (5th percentile) was considered as folate deficiency (4.6% of subjects). No child reported symptoms related to this deficiency. Folate values were significantly lower with age (p < 0.01), low NSE and low parental educational level (p: 0.0001). No relationship was found between folates and the analytical variables. According to multivariate linear regression, the variables significantly associated with serum folate were age, socioeconomic level and vitamin B12.Conclusions: Serum folate levels in healthy school children are described. Age, socioeconomic level and serum vitamin B12 are factors associated with folate status. Specific cut-off values for a paediatric population should be defined. What is Known: • Folic acid is an essential micronutrient for optimal growth and development; its deficit is associated with adverse health effects. • The studies on their status and deficit are not comparable due to a lack of agreement on appropriate indicators and reference values. What is New: • This study reports the levels of serum folate in a large population of healthy schoolchildren, with strict inclusion criteria in a developed country and identifies the associated sociodemographic, dietary and analytical (vitamin B12, iron parameters and erythropoietic activity) factors, avoiding potential confusion. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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