The influence of folic acid supplement on the outcome of pregnancies in the county of Funen in Denmark

Iron but not folic acid supplementation reduces the risk of low birthweight in pregnant women without anaemia: a case control study

“…In New Zealand, a case–control study of SGA folic acid supplementation also showed a reduced risk 22. In a Danish trial the effects of supplementing the diet with folic acid given preconceptionally or in the first half of pregnancy were a slight increase of birthweight and a decrease in the incidence of preterm labour, LBW and SGA; the greatest effect was seen in the groups receiving folic acid preconceptionally 27. Other trials have, however, failed to show any advantage of folic acid supplementation on birthweight 28 29…”

Folic acid supplementation, dietary folate intake and risk of preterm birth in China

“…Earlier epidemiological studies investigating the associations between PB and folic acid supplements/dietary folate intake have provided conflicting results [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]42]; among them, Dunlop et al [43] investigated plasma level of folate. While ten studies have reported a protective effect of folic acid supplements/dietary folate intake on PB [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27], one study reported that risk of PB associated with folic acid supplement use varied by time periods of use (preconception, first trimester, and second trimester) [17] and four studies found no association [28][29][30]42]. Variations in dosage of folic acid use, selected pregnancy period of use, definitions of PB by gestational age, and lack of consideration of PB clinical subtypes among different populations might partially contribute to the inconsistent results.…”

“…Randomized controlled trials linking maternal folic acid supplementation to PB have reported inconsistent findings [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Epidemiologic studies examining folic acid supplementation/dietary folate and PB have also reported mixed results, including positive [17], negative [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27], and null findings [28][29][30].…”

Relationship of Maternal Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 with birth weight and body proportion of newborn

“…8 A lack of folic acid in pregnancy impair the growth of the placenta and fetus leading to lower birth weight, length & OFC. 9 Vitamin B 12 plays an integral role in folate dependent homocysteine metabolism as a rate limiting cofactor in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine. So limited supply of vitamin B 12 during pregnancy causes hyperhomocysteinemia which may have very important consequences for fetal growth.…”

“…So limited supply of vitamin B 12 during pregnancy causes hyperhomocysteinemia which may have very important consequences for fetal growth. 7,9 Thus hyperhomocysteinemia following folate & vitamin B 12 deficiency associated with IUGR. …”