title: Serum levels of folate and cobalamin in women with recurrent spontaneous abortion.
abstract: We evaluated the folate and cobalamin status in 29 non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (three or more consecutive) of unknown aetiology in comparison to 29 healthy nulligravidae of similar reproductive age (controls). Serum concentrations of folate and cobalamin showed no significant differences between the two groups. No correlation between age and vitamin concentrations was found. In the study group there was a significant negative correlation of the number of previous abortions and the concentration of serum folate. Patients with at least four previous miscarriages had significantly lower serum values of folic acid than women with three abortions, but not than controls. The underlying cause of this finding remains unclear. In conclusion, the serum concentrations of folic acid and vitamin B12 are not significantly altered in women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions, and an association between a deficiency of these vitamins and an increased risk of pregnancy loss appears to be questionable in the majority of gestations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sütterlin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bussen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruppert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steck
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12