title: Effects of nutrition on zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy.
abstract: In this article, we report the results of a case control study carried out on 290 Turkish pregnant women at 5-24 wk of gestation to determine their zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12 levels in relation to their nutritional and socioeconomic status. The women were divided into two groups (n=145 each), depending on the stage of gestation. Group I consisted of women in the first trimester of gestation; those in the second trimester were allocated into group II. Twenty-five age-matched, healthy nonpregnant women were selected as controls. The nutritional status of the subjects was determined by means of a survey. Based on this, the women were subdivided into three subgroups: malnourished (PN), moderately nourished (MN), and well nourished (WN). Also from the survey, the socioeconomic status was classified as good (G) or bad (B). A statistically significant decrease on zinc and folic acid was observed in group I women, as their socioeconomic status worsened. In group II, zinc decreased only in the PN and MN subgroups, p<0.001. The folic acid and vitamin B12 levels did not change significantly during the second trimester of gestation in all subgroups. Regarding zinc, nutrition, or dietary habits are more relevant than socioeconomic status, but poor nutrition affects folic acid levels only during the first trimester of gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Maturat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Isik
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ustüner
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.forename: Feride
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Söylemez
authors.forename: Ayhan O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Cavdar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D012923:Social Class; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D015032:Zinc; D014805:Vitamin B 12