RESUMO
Folate deficiency is very common in Germany. In the average 15% of different groups of people (children, adolescents, adults, the elderly) show biochemical resp. haematological alterations corresponding to folate deficiency. In pregnancy there is a much higher risk to develop folate deficiency because of a drastic increase in folate requirement. This is mainly due to the fetoplacentar folate transfer and even an ideal diet can't prevent folate deprivation during pregnancy. An inadequate supply situation before and during pregnancy might be a high risk for developing deficiency symptoms not only for the mother but especially for the foetus. Though the consequences of folate deficiency are very well known, nothing has happened in the past concerning the estimation of folate status in pregnant women. Information about an ideal diet in pregnancy and perhaps folate supplementation are therefore desirable.
