Effect of folate supplementation and malaria on the folate content of human milk.

The concentration of folate in human milk was estimated in two groups of lactating mothers. The first group had no folate supplementation throughout pregnancy and the other group had 5 mg folate/day throughout the last trimester. Concentration of folate was significantly higher in the milk of mothers who had supplementation. There was a significant increase in folate concentration as the milk progressed to maturity. When malaria was present, there was no significant increase in the concentration of folate in the milk. Human milk is low in folate, and a rise in body temperature seems to disturb folate metabolism.