Maternal and cord folate and vit.B12 levels in Malaysians at parturition

Folate and vitamin B 12 status in pregnancy was studied in a group of 190 Malaysian mothers belonging to the three major ethnic origins. Cord blood was also analysed for the same vitamins. Ethnic variations with regard to deficiency in these two vitamins was determined. About 58.5 percent of the pregnant mothers suffered from lowered serum folate levels and 32.4 percent had lowered RBC folate levels. In contrast vitamin B 12 levels were within normal limits. Cord blood levels of these vitamins were significantly higher than. the corresponding levels in the maternal blood, suggesting the possible involvement of an active process in the transfer of folates and vitamin B 12 to the fetus.