[Evaluation of the folacin status in children with regard to the cobalamin and iron status. 1. Changes in the differential blood picture as a function of the vitamin and ferritin levels of the serum vs. erythrocytes].

The biochemical data concerning the evaluation of the folacin status in children are insufficient, as there are no biologically based borderlines available. In a study with 165 children between 1 and 15 years we looked for serum and erythrocytic folate concentrations and correlated the results with morphological alterations in the blood picture (lobe average of the neutrophilic granulocytes). As cobalamin and iron status influences different folacin depending parameters we estimated the vitamin B12- and ferritin concentration in serum as well. In our study neither the iron nor the cobalamin status influenced the blood picture and the blood folate concentrations. That's why all samples could be taken for the final evaluation. It could be demonstrated that folacin serum levels below 4.0 ng/ml respectively erythrocytic concentrations below 250 ng/ml correspond with an increasing lobe average above 3.5 compared with normal values ranging between 2.8-3.5. These biologically based borderlines were comparable between the different age groups. On the basis of these data it is possible to assess the duration and severity of folacin deficiency in children.