Cobalamin status during normal pregnancy and postpartum: a longitudinal study comprising 406 Danish women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess cobalamin (vitamin B(12)) status during normal pregnancy and postpartum in a longitudinal setting.


METHODS
This study was performed in 1995-1996. It comprised 406 healthy, pregnant Danish Caucasian women, living in Copenhagen County. Cobalamin status, i.e. plasma (P-) cobalamin, P-methylmalonic acid and P-homocysteine was measured at 18, 32 and 39 wk gestation and 8 wk postpartum during lactation.


RESULTS
P-cobalamin showed a gradual, significant decline during pregnancy (P < 0.0001) followed by a significant increase postpartum (P < 0.0001); at 18, 32, 39 wk gestation and 8 wk postpartum median values were 225, 172, 161 and 319 pmol/L, respectively. P-methylmalonic displayed a gradual, significant increase during pregnancy as well as postpartum (P < 0.001) with median values of 0.11, 0.13, 0.14, and 0.16 micromol/L, respectively. P-homocysteine demonstrated a significant increase during pregnancy and postpartum (P < 0.001). The frequency of P-cobalamin values <150 pmol/L increased during pregnancy from 15% at 18 wk to 43% at 39 wk gestation and subsequently declined to 3% postpartum.


CONCLUSIONS
Low cobalamin status may occur among pregnant women, especially in late pregnancy. The recommendations for periconceptional vitamin B(12) supplementation should be reconsidered.
Milman
Nils
N
Department of Obstetrics, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. milman@rh.dk
Byg
Keld-Erik
KE
Bergholt
Thomas
T
Eriksen
Lisbeth
L
Hvas
Anne-Mette
AM
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012016:Reference Values; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D006710:Homocysteine; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12