title: Homocysteine, red cell, and plasma folate concentrations and birth weight in Italian women: results from a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective cohort study conducted in Italy on homocysteine and red cell folate levels in pregnancy and pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of pregnant women was identified in 21 Italian obstetric centers. Women were eligible at 8th-10th week of gestation. All women were followed up to delivery in order to collect information on pregnancy outcome and birth weight (BW).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred forty-four women were included in the analysis. In women not reporting current use of folate at study entry, the median homocysteine levels (micromol/l) were 7.9, 8.1, and 8.5 at the 8th-10th, 16th, and 22nd week of gestation, respectively; the median red cells folate levels (nmol/dl) were 3.9, 6.1, and 7.0. The mean BW tended to be lower in the 2nd and 3rd tertile of homocysteine levels in comparison with the 1st tertile (p<0.05 at the 8th-10th and 22nd week). The mean week of gestation at birth was higher in subjects in the 2nd and 3rd tertile of red cell folate at the 8th?10th and 16th week of gestation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study estimated homocysteine and plasma folate levels in Italian pregnant women and suggested that homocysteine level was associated with BW.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Ostetrico Ginecologica, Università degli studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore, Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiaffarino
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Improta
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid