Impact of asphyxia on red blood cell folate concentration levels in newborns

To determine whether red blood cell (RBC) folate concentration levels are correlated with the occurrence of neonatal asphyxia and to study the effects of gestational age, gender, and mode of delivery on RBC folate concentration levels in newborns.

Asphyxia is one of the frequent causes of morbidity and mortality of newborns. Severe perinatal asphyxia can arise due to many factors.

In a prospective study, the RBC folate concentrations were determined on day 1 of life in the whole group (n=181) of full-term (n=121) and preterm (n=60) newborns. Immunochemical analysis for the determination of folate in erythrocytes was performed.

RBC folate concentration levels in asphyxiated newborns (n=16) were significantly decreased (median 974 ng/ml; p=0.023) in comparison with healthy newborns. On the other hand, the RBC folate concentration levels were significantly increased in preterm newborns (median 1,212 ng/ml; p=0.01) in comparison with full-term newborns (median 1,098 ng/ml). Higher RBC folate concentration levels were found in newborns which had been delivered by Caesarean section (median 1,188 ng/ml; p=0.02) compared to those born vaginally (median 1,098 ng/ml).

Our results confirmed a significant decrease in RBC folate concentration in asphyxiated newborns on their first day of life (Fig. 4, Ref. 36).