Authors: Parazzini, Fabio¹; Chiaffarino, Francesca; Ricci, Elena; Improta, Lucio²; Monni, Giovanni²

Source: Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Volume 24, Number 3, March 2011 , pp. 427-431(5)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

Abstract:

Objective.  A prospective cohort study conducted in Italy on homocysteine and red cell folate levels in pregnancy and pregnancy outcome.

Methods.  A cohort of pregnant women was identified in 21 Italian obstetric centers. Women were eligible at 8th--10th week of gestation. All women were followed up to delivery in order to collect information on pregnancy outcome and birth weight (BW).

Results.  Two hundred forty-four women were included in the analysis. In women not reporting current use of folate at study entry, the median homocysteine levels (μμmol/l) were 7.9, 8.1, and 8.5 at the 8th--10th, 16th, and 22nd week of gestation, respectively; the median red cells folate levels (nmol/dl) were 3.9, 6.1, and 7.0. The mean BW tended to be lower in the 2nd and 3rd tertile of homocysteine levels in comparison with the 1st tertile (p  <  0.05 at the 8th--10th and 22nd week). The mean week of gestation at birth was higher in subjects in the 2nd and 3rd tertile of red cell folate at the 8th--10th and 16th week of gestation.

Conclusion.  This study estimated homocysteine and plasma folate levels in Italian pregnant women and suggested that homocysteine level was associated with BW.

Keywords: Pregnancy; folate; homocysteine; birth weight; gestational week

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/14767058.2010.501127

Affiliations: 1: 1I Clinica Ostetrico Ginecologica, Universitàà degli studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore, Policlinico, Milano, Italy 2: 3Centro Molis, Napoli, Italy

Publication date: 2011-03-01

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