# Correlation between folic acid and hemoglobin in pregnant women: cross-sectional study from 2017 to 2019

## TL;DR

This study found a link between folic acid and hemoglobin levels in pregnant women, highlighting the need for nutritional monitoring during pregnancy.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence of a significant association between folic acid and hemoglobin levels in pregnant women using a large cross-sectional dataset.

## Key findings

- 90.9% of pregnant women had adequate folic acid levels (>5.38 ng/ml).
- Pregnant women with lower hemoglobin (≤11 g/dL) had higher rates of inadequate folic acid (13.2%) compared to those with higher hemoglobin (8.1%).
- The association between folic acid and hemoglobin levels was statistically significant (p=0.031).

## Abstract

to correlate folic acid levels with hemoglobin levels in pregnant women.

a cross-sectional study conducted between 2017 and 2019 with 950 pregnant women based on the cohort database “Nutrition and Infection: The Problem Revisited Due to the Microcephaly Outbreak”. Data were analyzed using Stata 12.1. Spearman’s correlation and Pearson’s chi-square tests were applied, with a significance level of 5%.

folic acid and hemoglobin levels were adequate (>5.38 ng/ml) in 90.9% of participants. Hemoglobin concentration was adequate (≥ 11 g/dL) in 80.8% of pregnant women. Pregnant women with hemoglobin ≤ 11 g/dL had 13.2% of inadequate folic acid, while in the group with hemoglobin ≥ 11 g/dL, 8.1% had inadequate folic acid (p=0.031).

an association was observed between hemoglobin and folic acid levels in the pregnant women assessed, reinforcing the importance of nutritional monitoring during prenatal care.

correlacionar os níveis de ácido fólico com os de hemoglobina em gestantes.

estudo transversal, realizado entre 2017 e 2019, com 950 gestantes, baseado no banco de dados da coorte “Nutrição e infecção: o problema revisitado em função do surto de microcefalia”. Os dados foram analisados no programa Stata 12.1. Foram aplicados os testes de correlação de Spearman e qui-quadrado de Pearson, com nível de significância de 5%.

a dosagem de ácido fólico e de hemoglobina mostrou-se adequada (> 5,38 ng/ml) em 90,9% das participantes. A concentração de hemoglobina foi adequada (≥ 11 g/dL) em 80,8% das gestantes. Gestantes com hemoglobina ≤ 11 g/dL apresentaram 13,2% de ácido fólico inadequado, enquanto, no grupo com hemoglobina ≥ 11 g/dL, 8,1% apresentaram ácido fólico inadequado (p=0,031).

observou-se associação entre os níveis de hemoglobina e ácido fólico nas gestantes avaliadas, reforçando a importância do acompanhamento nutricional durante o pré-natal.