Reduced Folate, Increased Vitamin B₁₂ and Homocysteine Concentrations in Women Delivering Preterm

Abstract

Background and Aim: Maternal nutrition is an important determinant of the duration of pregnancy and fetal growth, and thereby influences pregnancy outcome. Folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ are involved in one-carbon metabolism and are reported to underlie intrauterine programming of adult diseases. Methods: In the present study, the levels of folate, vitamin B₁₂ and homocysteine were measured in mothers delivering preterm (PT; gestation <37 weeks; n = 67), those delivering preterm due to preeclampsia (PT-PE; n = 49) and women delivering at term (control group; n = 76). Results: Increased vitamin B₁₂ and homocysteine levels (p < 0.05 for both) were seen in the PT-PE and PT groups as compared to the controls. In addition, reduced folate levels (p < 0.05) were observed in the PT group. A negative association of maternal plasma homocysteine with birth weight was seen in the idiopathic preterm group. Conclusions: Altered maternal micronutrients and resultant increased homocysteine concentrations exist in women delivering preterm. These alterations may also be partly associated with other factors such as undiagnosed inflammatory conditions or inadequate placentation in some women. Since these micronutrients play an important role in epigenetic regulation of vital genes involved in the fetal programming of adult diseases, further studies need to be undertaken to understand their role in preterm deliveries.

Matrix metalloproteinases-2, -3 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1, -2 in placentas from preterm pregnancies and their association with one-carbon metabolites

“…In contrast, a negative trend was seen in the control group. We have recently reported increased maternal plasma vitamin B 12 levels in women delivering preterm (Dhobale et al 2012a). Thus, a positive association between MMP3 and vitamin B 12 in the preterm group may be attributed to altered pathology in preterm pregnancy with the following possible mechanisms.…”

“…The associations between MMP/TIMP and vitamin B 12 levels were studied on a subset of term (nZ26) and preterm (nZ51) women from this study for which maternal plasma vitamin B 12 levels were estimated in our previous study (Dhobale et al 2012a). In this study, a positive association between placental MMP3 levels and maternal plasma vitamin B 12 levels was seen in the whole cohort (rZ0.265, PZ0.020, nZ77) and only in the preterm group (rZ0.277, PZ0.049, nZ51).…”

Autoantibodies against homocysteinylated protein in a mouse model of folate deficiency‐induced neural tube defects

“…In concordance with previous studies (Burgoon and others, 2002), we found that there was a significant increase in plasma homocysteine in pregnant mice administered a FD+SS diet throughout both the preconceptional and gestational period. The relationship between high homocysteine and poor pregnancy outcomes, independent of blood folate, has been established in both animal models and in human clinical populations (Bergen and others, 2012; Demir and others, 2012; Dhobale and others, 2012; Gadhok and others, 2011; Kim and others, 2012; van Mil and others, 2010). Administration of homocysteine to pregnant mice in the early stages of gestation has been demonstrated to cause fetal growth restriction, congenital abnormalities and increased fetal lethality (Han and others, 2009).…”

Vitamin B-12 and Perinatal Health

“…A study in Norway found that higher serum holohaptocorrin concentrations in cord blood were correlated with increased gestational age at delivery (P = 0.026) (96). In contrast, a case-control study in India found that women with preterm delivery had significantly higher plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations at delivery than women with term deliveries (P = 0.003) (96,97).…”