Homocysteine, red cell, and plasma folate concentrations and birth weight in Italian women: results from a prospective study

• Published in: The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine 2011-03, Vol.24 (3), p.427-431
• Main Authors: Parazzini, Fabio, Chiaffarino, Francesca, Ricci, Elena, Improta, Lucio, Monni, Giovanni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; birth weight; Birth Weight - physiology; Erythrocytes - chemistry; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Female; folate; Folic Acid - analysis; Folic Acid - blood; Follow-Up Studies; Gestational Age; gestational week; homocysteine; Homocysteine - analysis; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Italy - epidemiology; Osmolar Concentration; Plasma - chemistry; Plasma - metabolism; Pregnancy; Pregnancy - blood; Prospective Studies; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1476-7058; 1476-4954
• DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2010.501127

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 (μmol/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