We conclude that both serum and erythrocyte folate values reflect folate intake ; however , serum folate reacts more rapidly to folate intake than erythrocyte folate .
As to health outcomes , we found no evidence indicating that additional intake of folate can influence haematological parameters in non-anaemic paediatric patients .
We were unable to find evidence of a favourable effect of folate supplementation on the growth of infants .
However , the limited data available suggest that supplementing the diet of low-birth-weight infants with folic acid may moderate the rapid fall of serum and red cell folate in the first months of life
The aim of this systematic review was to collect all available r and omized controlled trials on the effect of folate supplementation on folate status and health outcomes within the paediatric age group .
Treatment and prevention of anemia with ferrous sulfate plus folic acid in children attending daycare centers in Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil: a randomized controlled trial.
The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of  anemia  and the therapeutic and prophylactic response to ferrous sulfate and folic acid . A double-blind , r and omized , controlled clinical trial was conducted with 196 children 6 to 24 months of age enrolled in municipal daycare centers in Goiânia , Goiás State , Brazil . The children were assigned to two treatment groups that received a daily dose ( 5 times a week ) of either 4.2mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate + folic acid ( 50microg ) or 4.2mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate + folic acid placebo . One of the prevention groups received 1.4mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate + folic acid ( 50microg/day ) and the other 1.4mg/kg/day of ferrous sulfate + folic acid placebo . Supplementation lasted approximately three months . Baseline anemia prevalence was 56.1 % ( 95%CI : 48.9 - 63.1 ) . After treatment , anemia prevalence in the folic acid group ( 14 % ) was lower than in the placebo group ( 34.9 % ) ( p = 0.02 ) . After prophylaxis in the non-anemic children , the incidence of anemia did not differ between the groups , but there was an increase in hemoglobin level in the folic acid group ( p = 0.003 ) . Iron plus folic acid was effective for the treatment of anemia and improvement of hemoglobin level in non-anemic children
We conclude that both serum and erythrocyte folate values reflect folate intake ; however , serum folate reacts more rapidly to folate intake than erythrocyte folate .
As to health outcomes , we found no evidence indicating that additional intake of folate can influence haematological parameters in non-anaemic paediatric patients .
We were unable to find evidence of a favourable effect of folate supplementation on the growth of infants .
However , the limited data available suggest that supplementing the diet of low-birth-weight infants with folic acid may moderate the rapid fall of serum and red cell folate in the first months of life
The aim of this systematic review was to collect all available r and omized controlled trials on the effect of folate supplementation on folate status and health outcomes within the paediatric age group .