This study proposed a comparison of the amount of hospitalized pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic and the amount of hospitalized women during the 2009 A-H1N1 Pandemic.

Based on this comparison, authors indicate that despite a greater susceptibility of pregnant women to different infections in the case of SARS-CoV-2, they appear to be protected. Compared to 2009 H1N1 epidemic, the magnitude of protection has been estimated to be 10.10. Authors proposed the supplementation with folic acid, recommended during pregnancy, as an explanation of this protection, and indicate the possibility that some patients possess a polymorphism that alters their folate metabolism which places them at a higher risk for getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 as well as an increased probability of being symptomatic or requiring in-patient care.

In conclusion, authors propose that folic acid supplementation may protect against SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Acosta-Elias J, Espinosa-Tanguma R. The Folate Concentration and/or Folic Acid Metabolites in Plasma as Factor for COVID-19 Infection. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Jul 16;11:1062. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01062. PMID: 32765270; PMCID: PMC7379025.