Near‐infrared spectroscopy characterizes vitamin deficiencies and infection status during pregnancy (804.1)

Background: Near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can identify spectral changes resulting from viral infections but has not been used to examine vitamin deficiencies or infection status during pregnancy. Objectives: To determine if vitamin status (sufficient/deficient) for A, D, B12, and folate, and presence/absence of respiratory, skin, oral, urogenital infections were reflected in NIR of maternal serum in 2nd (n=90) and 3rd trimester (n=100) in rural Panama. Methods: Eight functional groups (1600‐2400nm) were selected (CH, SH, POH, ROH, amide, amine, lactate and glucose). Values for each functional group and their ratios were compared by trimester between mothers with/without each deficiency, and with/without each infection using Mann‐Whitney U‐test. Results: Serum profiles differed by vitamin status in the 2nd trimester for vitamins A (amide:lactate, amine:lactate, lactate:glucose), B12 (POH:amide, ROH:amide) and folate (CH:ROH, SH:ROH). Differences were also observed for oral (CH:SH) and respiratory (amine:glucose) infections. In the third trimester, differences with vitamin D status involved both glucose and amine whereas folic acid deficiency involved differences only in amine. Only lactate differed between women with and without respiratory infections. Conclusion: NIR spectroscopy identified spectral differences due to nutrient deficiencies and infections. Grant Funding Source : SENACYT, NSERC