[Study of folic acid blood levels during estro-progestagen treatments].

When the blood levels of folates were estimated in 100 women following treatment with oestro-progestagens the following facts emerged : 1) There is no significant difference between the folate levels found in women on oestro-progestagens compared with a control population of the same age. 2) We have not found any evidence of frank folic acid deficiency in women on oestro-progestagens, but there have been slight drops in the levels of folates in women who show other reasons for folic acid deficiency than taking oral contraceptives. These are : troubles in absorption, salmonella, an increase in the need for folic acid in pregnancy, and failure of transport. Furthermore the incidence of lower levels in the control population was exactly the same as in the experimental population.