Folic Acid in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of once weekly supplemental folic acid dosing compared to daily dosing in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on methotrexate. The study population is pediatric patients (ages 2-21) with inflammatory bowel disease on methotrexate who are receiving supplemental folic acid. The current standard of care is to administer folic acid supplements on a daily basis. This will be a prospective study involving pediatric IBD patients on methotrexate. Each patient's baseline folate levels and other routine labs at enrollment (time zero) will function as their control at the conclusion of the study. Doses will be standardized prior to study initiation. All patients will receive 800mcg of supplemental folic acid per week. IBD patients are typically evaluated and have lab draws every 6 months. For our study, labs will be obtained as routine labs (CBC, CMP) and a baseline folate level at the time of enrollment. Once these labs are obtained, patients with normal folate levels will qualify for inclusion in the study. They will be started on once weekly folate dosing. During the course of the study, if patients develop low folate levels, they will be removed from the study and placed back on daily doses of folate.