Folic Acid Metabolites in Whole Blood and Serum in Anemia of Pregnancy

Folic acid determinations were carried out on whole blood and serum by means of three microbiologic assays. The total folic acid (conjugated and free pteroylglutamic acid and folinic acid) was determined by L. casei, free pteroylglutamic acid and folinic acid were determined by the use of Strep. fecalis, and P. cerevisiae was employed for the determination of folinic acid (citrovorum factor). In sixty-four pregnant women with anemia, folic acid as well as serum iron and serum vitamin B 12 levels were determined. In thirty-five of them, significantly low folic acid values were found in whole blood and serum when compared with values in normal subjects. Low folic acid values were frequently associated with low serum vitamin B 12 and low serum iron concentration. The mechanism of the development of folic acid deficiency in pregnancy is discussed.