title: Increased homocysteine levels exist in women with preeclampsia from early pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present prospective study examines the levels of maternal plasma folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine in normotensive control (NC) women and women with preeclampsia (PE) from early pregnancy till delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study includes 126 NC and 62 PE women. Maternal blood was collected at 3 time points during pregnancy (T1 = 16th-20th weeks, T2 = 26th-30th weeks and T3 = at delivery). Levels of folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine were estimated by the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay technology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal plasma folate levels were similar between NC and PE women at all the time points across gestation. Maternal plasma vitamin B12 levels were significantly higher in PE (p < 0.05) as compared with NC at T2. Maternal plasma homocysteine levels were higher in PE as compared with NC at all the time points, i.e. T1, T2 (p < 0.05 for both) and T3 (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that higher homocysteine levels exist in women with PE from early pregnancy and continue till delivery.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs , Bharati Vidyapeeth University , Pune , India .
authors.forename: Nisha S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Wadhwani
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs , Bharati Vidyapeeth University , Pune , India .
authors.forename: Vidya V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Bharati Medical College and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth University , Pune , India , and.
authors.forename: Savita S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mehendale
authors.affiliation: b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Bharati Medical College and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth University , Pune , India , and.
authors.forename: Girija N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Wagh
authors.affiliation: c Gupte Hospital and Research Centre , Pune , India.
authors.forename: Sanjay A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gupte
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs , Bharati Vidyapeeth University , Pune , India .
authors.forename: Sadhana R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Joshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005865:Gestational Age; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Folate; homocysteine; preeclampsia; prospective study; vitamin B12