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 .
Premature infants require additional folate and vitamin B-12 to reduce the severity of the anemia of prematurity.
One hundred eighty-four premature infants , < 1800 g at birth and < 36 wk gestation , were entered into a study investigating the role of additional folate and vitamin B-12 supplementation of the anemia of prematurity .  All patients initially received vitamin E and iron in accordance with accepted st and ards . Patients were r and omly assigned to four groups to receive orally 0.1 mg folate/d for 4 mo , 100 micrograms vitamin B-12 intramuscularly monthly for 4 mo , both supplements , or neither . All other activities including parenteral nutrition were carried out according to established practice s , irrespective of study group . By 10 - 12 wk , infants treated with vitamin B-12 alone or combined with folate had higher hemoglobin values than the untreated ( P < 0.0005 ) or solely folate-treated ( P < 0.01 ) groups . These findings held true irrespective of wide variations in treatment and feeding practice s. The only uncontrolled hematologic nutritional factor , selenium , showed a similar pattern of decline for 10 - 12 wk in all study patients , whether or not they received additional vitamin supplements
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 .