title: The cobalamin-binding proteins transcobalamin and haptocorrin in maternal and cord blood sera at birth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two proteins carry vitamin B12 in plasma. Transcobalamin (TC) carries approximately 25% of total plasma vitamin B12 and is 6% to 20% saturated with cobalamin. Haptocorrin (HC) binds approximately 80% of total cobalamin and is largely saturated with cobalamin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the distribution and the relationship between concentrations of cobalamin, total and holo forms of TC, and HC in blood samples from pregnant women just before delivery (n = 92) and in cord blood samples from their newborn babies. We also investigated the relationship between these proteins and concentrations of methylmalonic acid (MMA), the functional marker of vitamin B12 status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentrations of total serum cobalamin, total HC, holoHC, and percentage of HC saturation were higher in cord blood than in the maternal blood (mean cobalamin, 268 vs 188 pmol/L; total HC, 648 vs 538 pmol/L; holoHC, 441 vs 237 pmol/L; HC saturation, 70% vs 47%). Moreover, total TC was low in cord blood, whereas both holoTC and TC saturation were higher in cord blood than in the maternal blood (mean total TC, 654 vs 1002 pmol/L; holoTC, 118 vs 53 pmol/L; TC saturation, 19.8% vs 5.4%). Higher maternal serum cobalamin was associated with higher cord blood holoTC and TC saturation (P <0.05). Gestational age was also a significant determinant of baby total TC, TC saturation, total HC, and holoHC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The close correlation between the amounts of holoTC present in cord blood and in maternal serum supports the importance of maternal cobalamin status for ensuring a sufficient supply to the baby.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: Rima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Obeid
authors.forename: Anne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Morkbak
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Munz
authors.forename: Ebba
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nexo
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011485:Protein Binding; D014155:Transcobalamins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014155:Transcobalamins; D014805:Vitamin B 12