The effects of high and low doses of folic acid on oxidation of protein levels during pregnancy: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Objective Oxidants include important active molecules which are created in the body and attack biological molecules especially lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and proteins, and cause oxidation and various diseases in the body. Antioxidants existing in the body help to avoid the incidence of these injuries. Pregnant women are among those where oxidation of biological molecules may do irreparable damage to them and their embryos. So, the purpose of this study was to review the effect of folic acid with both high (5 mg/day) and low (0.5 mg/day) doses on the changes of oxidative protein in reducing plasma homocystein concentration during pregnancy. Materials and methods Forty-five pregnant women participated in this study. They were divided into two groups: group 1 included 23 women who received 5 mg/day folic acid and group 2 included 23 women who took 0.5 mg/day folic acid before pregnancy till the 36th week pregnancy. We measured the biochemical variables in the serum of pregnant women at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results Folic acid reduced plasma homocytein in both low and high dose groups (p = 0.035, p = 0.012, respectively). Also, the results showed that folic acid prescription led to reduce plasma level of carbonyl groups in both low and high dose groups (p = 0.01, p = 0.03, respectively). Furthermore, the results showed that there is no significant difference between two groups and folic acid affects both groups equally. Conclusion It is possible that folic acid administration can reduce plasma homocysteine and carbonyl levels during pregnancy in dose independent manner.