Folate status of adult males living in a metabolic unit: possible relationships with iron nutriture

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Abstract
Folate and iron status was monitored at monthly intervals in 40 adult males who were living in a metabolic unit for 2 to 8 months and consuming diets containing 150 to 250 µg of folate per day. There were significant (p < 0.02) declines in hematocrit, serum folate, and serum ferritin. Men who participated in studies for 6 months or more or those with initial serum folate levels more than 10.5 ng/ml and erythrocyte folate levels more than 481 ng/ml also exhibited a highly significant (p < 0.001) decline in red blood cell folate. Men with erythrocyte folate below 480 ng/ml or serum folate below 10 ng/ml and who participated in the studies for less than 5 months showed little or no change in folate status. The findings may reflect adjustments in body folate to reflect dietary intakes. Also a folate intake of 200 ± 68 µg/day appeared to be adequate for maintenance of folate stores in adult males. A correlation between iron stores and folate status was also observed. However, this relationship may be coincidental.

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