Vitamin B12 and folic acid status of term pregnant women and newborns in the Antwerp region, Belgium

Abstract

Objective: Descriptive study on maternal serum vitamin B12 and folic acid in term pregnancy and in umbilical cord blood that was performed in an inner city hospital with a mixed ethnic population in the region of Flanders in Belgium. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study that took place from April 1 until May 31, 2011. Plasma folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured in maternal and umbilical cord blood from all term uncomplicated deliveries in a single regional hospital. Data on age, previous obstetric history, ethnicity, nutritional intake, and use of vitamin supplements were registered. Results: Data were collected from 110 patients, mean maternal serum vitamin B12 was 243.9 pmol/l and mean folic acid level was 43.0 nmol/l. Using a cutoff of respectively 150 pmol/l for vitamin B12 and 7.1 nmol/l for folic acid, 13% of the women were classified as vitamin B12-deficient and 23% were deficient for folic acid. Vitamin B12 deficiency was only seen in autochthonous Belgian women. A correlation between the maternal and umbilical cord levels was noted (R = 0.7 for vitamin B12, R = 0.85 for folic acid), but none of the umbilical cord levels demonstrated deficiency. Number of previous pregnancies and intake of supplements had no influence. Conclusion: Pregnant women in Antwerp, Belgium, frequently show vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency, although a correlation exists with lower umbilical cord levels, the present limited data did not demonstrate any case of deficiency in umbilical cord blood. The frequency is highest in the autochthonous population and is not influenced by intake of vitamin supplements.

Is antenatal or early‐life vitamin D associated with eczema or food allergy in childhood? A systematic review

“…Interestingly, the results of the associations between cord blood vitamin D and eczema outcomes are inconsistent with the results seen in maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy. While maternal 25(OH)D concentrations being strongly associated with cord blood vitamin D levels, 87,88 cord blood vitamin D levels are much lower than maternal blood levels. 89 It should be noted that the strength of the association between maternal and cord blood vitamin D levels is attenuated when maternal vitamin D levels are low (<37.5 nmol/L) and this association is stronger in White compared with Black children.…”

Trimethylamine N-Oxide and Its Precursors Are Associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Pre-Eclampsia in the Boston Birth Cohort

“…It is known that certain nutrients are preferentially allocated to the fetus, even when maternal supply is low. For example, folate, an essential nutrient for both mother and fetus, has been demonstrated to follow this pattern, perhaps because of its involvement in neural tube development and other essential functions ( 35–37 ). As such, it is possible that other essential nutrients including choline, betaine, and carnitine are allocated similarly.…”

“…Furthermore, no study has examined the group of precursors in addition to TMAO in both cord blood and maternal blood, which may be important because of cross-placental transfer of these metabolites ( 29–34 ). It is well-established that certain essential nutrients (e.g., folate) are preferentially allocated to the fetus, even in scenarios of maternal deficiency ( 35–37 ). Choline, which plays a role in fetal growth and neural development, and carnitine, which is involved in fatty acid metabolism and the removal of toxic metabolites, are known to be actively transported to the fetus ( 31 , 32 ).…”