title: Folate, homocysteine and selected vitamins and minerals status in infertile women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diet has been recognised as a crucial factor influencing fetal and maternal health. Adequate levels of substances such as homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12have been associated with a higher rate of success in infertility treatments. Few data, however, are available on the average levels of micronutrients in the blood of reproductive-aged women, and specific values for adequate levels are not available. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to measure levels of folate, homocysteine and selected vitamins and minerals in women attending the infertility unit of an academic hospital for in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting venous blood samples were taken in the morning during routine screening before IVF in order to measure: serum folate, red blood cell (RBC) folate, total plasma homocysteine, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin E, serum iron and serum ferritin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 269 women aged 37 ± 4 years, only 69% and 44% showed adequate levels of homocysteine and vitamin B12, respectively. Serum folate was appropriate in 78% of the study participants, but only a minority (12%) had a concentration of RBC folate regarded as optimal for the prevention of fetal neural tube defects. Serum levels of vitamin A, vitamin E, iron and ferritin were, however, appropriate in the vast majority of participants (>80%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Folate levels were largely inadequate among women attending an infertility clinic for IVF. Vitamin B12levels were also found to be inadequate.
authors.affiliation: a Infertility Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy.|b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University of Milan , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.affiliation: a Infertility Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paffoni
authors.affiliation: a Infertility Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy.|b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , University of Milan , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castiglioni
authors.affiliation: a Infertility Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: c Office for Research Promotion, Department of Hospital Management , Verona University Hospital , Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bortolus
authors.affiliation: d Central Laboratory , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferraris Fusarini
authors.affiliation: d Central Laboratory , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bettinardi
authors.affiliation: a Infertility Unit , Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somigliana
authors.affiliation: e Department of Clinical Sciences and Community , University of Milan , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D006710:Homocysteine; D014801:Vitamin A; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014810:Vitamin E; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Folate; folic acid; homocysteine; infertility; micronutrients; preconceptional period