Vitamin B(12) intake and status in early pregnancy among urban South Indian women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the vitamin B(12) status of South Indian women in early pregnancy and its relationship with sociodemographic, anthropometry and dietary intake.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study among 366 pregnant urban South Indian women ≤14 weeks of gestation with outcome variables defined as low vitamin B(12) blood concentration (<150 pmol/l) and impaired vitamin B(12) status [low vitamin B(12) plus elevated methylmalonic acid (MMA) >0.26 µmol/l)].


RESULTS
Low plasma vitamin B(12) concentration was observed in 51.1% of the women, while 42.4% had impaired B(12) status. Elevated MMA, elevated homocysteine (>10 µmol/l) and low erythrocyte folate (<283 nmol/l) were observed among 75.8, 43.3 and 22.2% of the women, respectively. The median (25th, 75th percentile) dietary intake of vitamin B(12) was 1.25 (0.86, 1.96) µg/day. Lower maternal body weight was associated with higher vitamin B(12) concentration [prevalence ratios (PR) (95% CI) 0.57 (0.39, 0.84)]. The predictors of impaired vitamin B(12) status were no consumption of yoghurt [PR (95% CI) 1.63 (1.03, 2.58)] or fish [PR (95% CI) 1.32 (1.01, 1.71)] and primiparity [PR (95% CI) 1.41 (1.05, 1.90)].


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of vitamin B(12) deficiency in early pregnancy among urban South Indian women was related to primiparity and to a low consumption of yoghurt and fish.
Division of Nutrition, St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India.
Tinu Mary
TM
Samuel
Christopher
C
Duggan
Tinku
T
Thomas
Ronald
R
Bosch
Ramya
R
Rajendran
Suvi M
SM
Virtanen
Krishnamachari
K
Srinivasan
Anura V
AV
Kurpad
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010298:Parity / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
D006710:Homocysteine; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12