title: Association between oxidized LDL and folate during pregnancy.
abstract: High levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) during pregnancy are a risk factor for preeclampsia. Ox-LDL levels might be affected by folate and total homocysteine (tHcy) levels because of their effects on oxygen free radicals. The relationships between ox-LDL and folate and tHcy during pregnancy, however, remain unclear. The present study investigated whether serum folate levels and plasma tHcy levels were associated with plasma ox-LDL levels in pregnant women. A sample of 137 healthy subjects with singleton pregnancies (age 30.3 ± 4.5 years) was recruited from a prenatal clinic in metropolitan Tokyo between June and October 2008. Their levels of plasma ox-LDL, plasma tHcy, and serum folate were measured, and lifestyle variables were obtained using a questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed by means of a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. A negative correlation between plasma ox-LDL levels and serum folate levels was found (r(s) = -.218, p =.011). However, there was no association between plasma ox-LDL levels and plasma tHcy levels (r(s) = .055, p = .525). The mean of the logarithmic ox-LDL levels was significantly lower among the participants taking folic acid-containing supplements regularly than among those who were not, after adjusting for confounding factors (p = .024). Serum folate levels and folic acid supplementation might be associated with plasma ox-LDL levels, independent of tHcy levels. The association observed between ox-LDL and folate can be used as evidence for dietary instruction by prenatal care providers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery and Women's Health, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan. mi-shi@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haruna
authors.forename: Masayo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Ryoko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Seonae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Sachiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murashima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D005492:Folic Acid