TITLE:
The Impact of Third Trimester Maternal Serum Vitamin B12 and Folate Status on Fetal Birth Weight. Is Maternal Serum Homocysteine a Predictor of Low Birth Weight Infants?
AUTHORS:
Mohamed Abdelaziz Youssry, Ahmed Mohamed Radwan, Mohamed Amin Gebreel, Tabarak Ahmed Patel
KEYWORDS:
Low Birth Weight, Vitamin B12, Homocysteine
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.7 No.11,
October
19,
2017
ABSTRACT: Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine
status in pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy and their
relationship to fetal birth weight and their correlation to corresponding
neonatal cord blood levels, and in addition, to
evaluate the possibility of maternal serum homocysteine level as a predictor of
low birth weight infants. Subjects and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total
of two hundred pregnant women in third trimester (≥28 weeks) were recruited.
After a detailed obstetrical and medical history, and clinical assessment,
participants were subdivided into two groups: Group (A)—pregnant women who delivered average birth weight (ABW) infants and Group
(B) for those who delivered low birth weight (LBW) infants between completed 37
and 42 weeks. Results: Vitamin B12 deficiency was observed in 24.1% of
the total cohort. The mean
vitamin B12 level was significantly lower in group (B) compared to group (A)
(195.2 ± 38.9 vs. 225.9 ± 66.59 respectively P = 0.008). The mean level of homocysteine for women in
group (B) was significantly higher than those determined from women in group
(A) (9.10 ± 5.9 vs. 7.6 ± 3.83 respectively, P = 0.042). On the other hand, the mean folate levels
showed statistically insignificant differences between both groups. The mean
cord vitamin B12 level was significantly lower in LBW infants in comparison to
ABW infants (277 ± 61.93 vs. 312.03 ± 81.87 respectively, P = 0.015), while the mean level of cord homocysteine
for LBW infants was significantly higher than those levels determined from ABW
infants (7.9 ± 3.79 vs. 6.6 ± 2.09 respectively P = 0.0049). Conclusion: Maternal micronutrients
particularly cobalamin deficiency could be significant risk for LBW infants.
Hyperhomocysteinemia has been shown to be a predictor for adverse pregnancy
outcomes particularly LBW.