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 .
The effect of folinic acid supplementation on homocysteine concentrations in newborns
Objective : The incidence of cerebrovascular accidents ( CVA ) occurring perinatally is relatively high and aspects of the multifactorial pathophysiology remain unclear . Elevated homocysteine concentrations have been shown to be associated with an increased risk for CVA in children and even in newborns . We studied the possible homocysteine lowering effect of folinic acid in newborns . Method : We included 37 newborns in our prospect i ve r and omized folinic acid ( given as 5-formyltetrahydrofolate ) intervention study from patients admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit ( 18 controls , 19 intervention group ) . We measured  total homocysteine ( tHcy ) and plasma folate concentrations at three time points ( baseline , 1 and 2 weeks after intervention ) . The intervention group was treated with folinic acid ( 70 μg/kg/day ) for 2 weeks . We calculated median concentrations ( 25th and 75th percentiles ) . Results : Median tHcy concentrations at the three time points did not differ from each other in the control group nor in the intervention group . We also could not observe different tHcy concentrations between both groups . Plasma folate concentrations increased in the intervention group ( mean increase 167 % ( 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) −291 , 625 ) ) compared with control group ( mean increase −12 % ( 95 % CI −132 , 108 ) ) , P for treatment effect : 0.03 . Conclusion : We could not demonstrate a homocysteine lowering effect of folinic acid administration in newborns . This indicates that one carbon metabolism in newborns differs form adults . Cobalamin might be a better strategy to lower tHcy concentrations in newborns
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 .