Influence of maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy on neonatal serum folate levels.
OBJECTIVE
Folate is an essential micronutrient for fetal development because of its role in de novo synthesis of DNA. The aim of this study was to compare neonatal serum folate levels of babies born to smoking and non-smoking mothers.


METHODS
Infants of consenting pregnant mothers presenting at ≥37 weeks of gestation were enrolled. Subjects were divided into two groups based on their mother's smoking habits. Blood samples were obtained at birth (from the umbilical cord) and 1 month after delivery for the determination of serum folate levels using a chemiluminescence method.


RESULTS
Among 140 consenting subjects, 108 (77%) brought their newborns to their scheduled visit 1 month after delivery, 68 of whom were non-smokers and 40 were smokers. Babies born to smoking mothers had significantly lower serum folate levels compared to those born to non-smoking mothers, both at birth (17.2 ± 5 vs. 24.3 ± 4.9; p < 0.01) and 1 month after delivery (11 ± 4.1 vs. 17.5 ± 4.3; p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study is the first of its kind to demonstrate that smoking results in significant reductions in serum folate levels of newborns. These results suggest that folic acid supplementation may be required for expectant smoking mothers throughout pregnancy, not just during the first trimester. Similar supplementation may also be warranted for infants born to such mothers.
Division of Neonatology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching Hospital, 06230, Cebeci, Ankara, Turkey. dryekta@gmail.com
Mehmet Yekta
MY
Oncel
Ramazan
R
Ozdemir
Omer
O
Erdeve
Ugur
U
Dilmen
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
D005492:Folic Acid