Estimating the Serum Folate Concentration That Corresponds to the Red Blood Cell Folate Concentration Threshold Associated with Optimal Neural Tube Defects Prevention: A Population-based Biomarker Survey in Southern India

Background: RBC folate concentrations are monitored at the population level, with a recommended threshold for optimal neural tube defect (NTD) prevention. A corresponding threshold for serum folate has not been established.

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the serum folate insufficiency threshold corresponding to the RBC folate threshold for NTD prevention and examine how this threshold is modified by vitamin B status.

Methods: Participants were women (15-40 y; not pregnant or lactating; n = 977) from a population-based biomarker survey in Southern India. RBC folate and serum folate were measured via microbiologic assay. RBC folate deficiency (<305 nmol/L) and insufficiency (<748 nmol/L), serum vitamin B deficiency (<148 pmol/L) and vitamin B insufficiency (<221 pmol/L), elevated plasma MMA (>0.26 μmol/L), elevated plasma homocysteine (>10.0 μmol/L), and elevated HbA1c (≥6.5%) were evaluated. Bayesian linear models were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted thresholds.

Results: Compared with adequate vitamin B status, the estimated serum folate threshold was higher in participants with serum vitamin B deficiency (72.5 vs. 28.1 nmol/L) or vitamin B insufficiency (48.7 vs. 24.3 nmol/L) and elevated MMA (55.6 vs. 25.9 nmol/L). The threshold was lower in participants with elevated HbA1c (HbA1c ≥6.5% vs. <6.5%; 21.0 vs. 40.5 nmol/L).

Conclusions: The estimated serum folate threshold for optimal NTD prevention was similar to previous reports (24.3 vs. 25.6 nmol/L) among participants with sufficient vitamin B status. However, this threshold was more than 2-fold higher in participants with vitamin B deficiency and substantially higher across all indicators of insufficient vitamin B status (<221 pmol/L, elevated MMA, combined B, impaired vitamin B status), and lower in participants with elevated HbA1c. Findings suggest a serum folate threshold for NTD prevention may be possible in some settings; however, it may not be appropriate in populations with high prevalence of vitamin B insufficiency. Am J Clin Nutr 2023;xx:xx-xx. This trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04048330.