Effect of folic acid supplementation on pregnancy in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus)

Supplementation of squirrel monkeys with folic acid improved hematologic and folate status, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, and infant birth weight. Thus the folate content in the stock diet (1.4 microgram/g) did not meet the requirement for pregnancy. Low plasma vitamin B12 values suggest that vitamin B12 in the stock diet (22 ng/g) also was not adequate. Changes with folic acid supplementation are similar to those for human subjects, indicating that the squirrel monkey is an appropriate model for folic acid deficiency in pregnancy in man.