[Evaluation of the folacin status in children with regard to the cobalamin and iron status. 2. Incidence and severity of folate deficiency].

In a study with 165 children the folate, cobalamin and iron status was investigated by biochemical and haematological methods. On the basis of biologically based borderlines it could be demonstrated, that 15% of the children showed folate deficiency in a progressive state. This means that low serum resp. low erythrocytic folate concentrations correlated with alterations in the blood picture (lobe average of the neutrophilic granulocytes). Especially children in the age of puberty (11-15 years) are to be regarded as vulnerable; 30% of this group show deficiency symptoms whereas in very young children (1-5 years) only in 10% the supply situation is insufficient. The folate status in pupils (6-10 years) is comparable to adults (15% deficient). As cobalamin and iron status may influence folate depending parameters the status of these nutrients was estimated, too. Cobalamin deficiency was not detectable in any case. Though the iron supply situation was not adequate in all cases, interactions with the folate depending parameters could be excluded.