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 .
Folic acid supplementation prevents phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth in children
Objective : Gingival overgrowth is an important adverse effect of phenytoin ( PHT ) therapy , occurring in about half of the patients . This study aim ed to evaluate the effect of oral folic acid supplementation ( 0.5 mg/day ) for the prevention of PHT-induced gingival overgrowth ( PIGO )  in children with epilepsy aged 6–15 years on PHT monotherapy for 6 months . Methods : This was a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial conducted at a tertiary level hospital from May 2008 to June 2009 . Children aged 6–15 years started on PHT monotherapy within last 1 month were eligible for inclusion . Preexisting gingival overgrowth , use of other folic acid antagonists , and macrocytic anemia were exclusion criteria . Trial subjects were r and omized to receive either folic acid or placebo . The primary outcome measure was incidence of any degree of gingival overgrowth after 6 months of PHT monotherapy . The trial was registered with clinical trials.gov ( NCT00781196 ) . Results : A total of 120 children were recruited , 62 and 58 , respectively , in folic acid and placebo arms . The 2 arms were comparable at baseline . Twenty-one percent of patients in the folic acid arm developed PIGO , as compared with 88 % receiving placebo ( p < 0.001 ) . Absolute risk reduction of PIGO by folic acid was 67 % ( 95 % confidence interval 54%–80 % ) , and relative risk reduction was 0.76 . Conclusions : Oral folic acid was found to decrease the incidence of PIGO  in children on PHT monotherapy , in a statistically significant and clinical ly relevant manner . Classification of evidence : This study provides Class I evidence that folic acid supplementation , 0.5 mg/day , is associated with prevention of gingival overgrowth in children taking PHT monotherapy
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 .