Possible Interaction: Folate and Iron, Dietary

“Combined iron and folate administration resulted in a marked therapeutic response, while mild or insignificant improvement was associated with either iron or folic acid teratment alone.”

“Iron supplementation has long been suspected to increase susceptibility to malaria [2], and a recent trial in malaria-holoendemic Zanzibar suggested that routine supplementation with iron and folate in children can result in an increased risk of severe illness and death [3].”

“Recommendations High compliance to the consumption of iron and folate supplements by pregnant women was reported, and this should be reinforced.”

“At four weeks, the mean hematocrit increased by 2.5% ± 1.6% in the iron plus folate group and by 1.4% ± 1.0% in the folate alone group (P = 0.001).”

“RESULTS Median ir n an d fol ate in takes were lower than UK and US recommended amounts.”

“This suggests an effect of folate on Fe metabolism.”

“Relative to their contribution to MDI … contribute a greater % MDI for Fe (men … 19), folate (men 18, women 21), vitamins B1 (men 14, women 16), B2 (men 16, women 18), B6 (men … 15), D (men 5, women 11), B12 (men 5, women 7) and niacin (men 10, women 12).”

“We hypothesized that combined administration of vitamin B12 and folate with erythropoietin and iron would enhance erythropoietin-induced erythropoiesis.”

“Among micronutrients calcium, vitamin D, folates , flavonoids, antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E) and selenium can be protective meanwhile iron may enhance risk.”

“Therefore, routine iron and folate supplementation may both have deleterious effects on zinc metabolism, especially during pregnancy when iron-folate supplements are often prescribed despite adequate dietary intakes of iron and folate but not of zinc.”