title: The risk of folate and vitamin B(12) deficiencies associated with hyperhomocysteinemia among pregnant women.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the folate and vitamin B (12) levels in pregnant and nonpregnant women to evaluate the risk for hyperhomocysteinemia and for folate and vitamin B (12) deficiencies during pregnancy. Healthy pregnant women (n = 92; 24 to 28 gestational weeks; 18 to 39 years old) and nonpregnant women (n = 176; 18 to 39 years old) were sampled for serum levels of folate, vitamin B (12), and homocysteine. Pregnant women were less likely to have folate deficiency (8.0% versus 12.0%) but much more likely to have vitamin B (12) deficiency (46.1% versus 0.6%) than nonpregnant women. Those with lower dietary vitamin intakes were more likely to have vitamin B (12) deficiency. Serum folate and vitamin B (12) were negatively correlated with homocysteine among pregnant women. Pregnant women with folate deficiency were more likely to have hyperhomocysteinemia than those without folate deficiency. The vitamin B (12) level associated with hyperhomocysteinemia was lower in pregnant subjects than in nonpregnant subjects in this study, indicating that pregnant women require vitamin B (12) supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyesook
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Hee
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Ki Nam
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Namsoo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12