We have located links that may give you full text access.
Prevalence of folate deficiency and macrocytosis in patients with and without alcohol-related illness.
Southern Medical Journal 1998 August
BACKGROUND: This study was done to determine the prevalence of folate deficiency and macrocytosis in patients admitted to the hospital medicine service with alcohol and nonalcohol-related illnesses.
METHODS: Two groups of patients, with and without alcohol-related illnesses, were included. Patients were excluded if they received folate therapy, medications known to alter folate concentrations, or if they had an uncertain diagnosis. Complete blood count and erythrocyte folate concentrations were determined from each patient. A Fisher's Exact Test and odds ratio were used to determine the prevalence of macrocytosis and correlation between folate deficiency and macrocytosis in the alcoholic group, respectively.
RESULTS: Of the 36 alcoholic patients, 11.1% were folate deficient, and 33.3% had macrocytosis. Only 2 of 12 patients with macrocytosis were folate deficient. No control patient had macrocytosis or folate deficiency.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of folate deficiency among patients with alcohol-related illness is low. There is no correlation detected between macrocytosis and folate deficiency. Our findings suggest that it may be inappropriate to routinely supplement all alcoholics with folic acid, but certainly a small minority may benefit from it.
METHODS: Two groups of patients, with and without alcohol-related illnesses, were included. Patients were excluded if they received folate therapy, medications known to alter folate concentrations, or if they had an uncertain diagnosis. Complete blood count and erythrocyte folate concentrations were determined from each patient. A Fisher's Exact Test and odds ratio were used to determine the prevalence of macrocytosis and correlation between folate deficiency and macrocytosis in the alcoholic group, respectively.
RESULTS: Of the 36 alcoholic patients, 11.1% were folate deficient, and 33.3% had macrocytosis. Only 2 of 12 patients with macrocytosis were folate deficient. No control patient had macrocytosis or folate deficiency.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of folate deficiency among patients with alcohol-related illness is low. There is no correlation detected between macrocytosis and folate deficiency. Our findings suggest that it may be inappropriate to routinely supplement all alcoholics with folic acid, but certainly a small minority may benefit from it.
Full text links
Trending Papers
A Personalized Approach to the Management of Congestion in Acute Heart Failure.Heart International 2023
Potential Mechanisms of the Protective Effects of the Cardiometabolic Drugs Type-2 Sodium-Glucose Transporter Inhibitors and Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Heart Failure.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 Februrary 21
The Effect of Albumin Administration in Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis.Critical Care Medicine 2024 Februrary 8
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app