title: Subclinical vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in Nigeria.
abstract: Inadequate vitamin B12 status in a pregnant woman increases the risk for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The use of serum vitamin B12 concentration alone to assess vitamin B12 status in pregnant women is unreliable because of the decrease in serum vitamin B12 levels in normal pregnancy. The combination of serum vitamin B12 and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations may provide a better estimate of vitamin B12 status. We obtained blood samples from 98 pregnant women in the third trimester at an antenatal clinic in Jos, Nigeria. All subjects were taking iron and folate supplements. Twelve of the subjects had a serum vitamin B12 concentration <148 pmol/l and 18 subjects had a serum MMA level >271 nmol/l. Using a combination of low serum vitamin B12 and elevated MMA concentrations, eight subjects were classified as having subclinical vitamin B12 deficiency. Because of the potential harmful consequences of vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnant women, it would be advisable to add vitamin B12 supplements to the existing regimen of folate and iron supplements currently provided to pregnant women in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-001, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Vanderjagt
authors.forename: I A O
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ujah
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kellywood
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Crossey
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Stabler
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Obande
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Glew
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D006710:Homocysteine; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12