Folacin status in adolescent females

The folacin status of 103 adolescent females aged 12, 14, and 16 y was evaluated. In the third year, longitudinal data regarding folacin status was obtained from 50 girls aged 14 and 16 y who had participated in the first year. In the first year, 11.7% and 47.6% of the girls had serum and erythrocyte folacin levels less than 3 ng/mL (6.8 nmol/L) and 140 ng/mL (317 nmol/L), respectively. Serum folacin levels and dietary folacin intake decreased with increasing age but not significantly. During the first year, 75% and 66% of the subjects that were folacin deficient based upon serum and erythrocyte folacin values, respectively, were the same subjects considered to be deficient during the third year. Folacin status, as indicated by serum and erythrocyte folacin values, was not related to per capita income. These findings demonstrate that folacin status is less than adequate in females during the adolescent years.