Accelerated folate breakdown in pregnancy

During pregnancy there is an increased requirement for folate. We studied pregnant women to determine whether the increased requirement might be due to enhanced catabolism of the vitamin. Six normal pregnant women provided 24 h urine samples during each trimester and postpartum while taking a define...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 1993-01, Vol.341 (8838), p.148-149
Main Authors: McPartlin, J., Weir, D.G., Halligan, A., Darling, M., Scott, J.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
4-Aminobenzoic Acid - urine
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Folic Acid - metabolism
Folic Acid - urine
Glutamates - urine
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Liquid chromatography
Management. Prenatal diagnosis
Medical research
Medical sciences
para-Aminobenzoates
Pregnancy
Pregnancy - metabolism
Pregnancy - urine
Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta
Vitamin B
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Summary:During pregnancy there is an increased requirement for folate. We studied pregnant women to determine whether the increased requirement might be due to enhanced catabolism of the vitamin. Six normal pregnant women provided 24 h urine samples during each trimester and postpartum while taking a defined diet. The urines were assayed for the folate breakdown products p-amino-benzoylglutamate (pABGlu) and its acetylated derivative p-acetamidobenzoylglutamate (apBGlu) by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Mean concentration of excreted apABGlu rose significantly in the second trimester but returned to baseline postpartum. This increased rate of folate catabolism produces an extra demand for dietary folate of about 200-300 μg per day in pregnant women, a considerably greater value than recent recommendations.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/0140-6736(93)90007-4