Premium
Biotin status in pregnancy
Author(s) -
Mock Donald M,
Stratton Shawna L,
MatthewsMock Nell I
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a103-c
Subject(s) - biotin , biotin deficiency , pregnancy , pyruvate carboxylase , medicine , excretion , urinary system , endocrinology , urine , physiology , enzyme , biology , biochemistry , genetics
Marginal biotin deficiency is quite teratogenic in some mammals, raising concern that biotin deficiency may cause human birth defects. In previous studies, we demonstrated that about half of women excrete increased urinary 3‐hydroxyisovaleric acid, likely reflecting decreased activity of the biotin‐dependent enzyme methylcrotonyl‐CoA carboxylase and implying marginal biotin deficiency. However, urinary biotin excretion was not generally decreased in these studies, and interpretation of urinary excretion rates is problematic because renal function is altered by pregnancy per se . We have recently validated activity of the biotin‐dependent enzyme propionyl‐CoA carboxylase (PCC) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) as a sensitive indicator of biotin status. In the current study, we measured PCC activity in PBL of 12 women in early pregnancy, 10 women in late pregnancy, and 9 women who were not pregnant ( Figure). Compared to controls, mean PCC activity was significantly decreased (* P =0.0002) in both early and late pregnancy. Indeed PCC was decreased below the normal range in every pregnant woman. This study provides evidence that a substantial proportion of pregnant women are marginally biotin deficient. Supported by Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Act & NIH: 2 R‐01:DK36823.