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Vitamin B 12 and Folate Status in Pregnant Adolescents and Their Infants
Author(s) -
Finkelstein Julia L.,
Guillet Ronnie,
Pressman Eva K.,
Kent Tera R.,
O'Brien Kimberly O.
Publication year - 2016
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.30.1_supplement.901.2
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , gestation , vitamin , cord blood , vitamin d and neurology , obstetrics , cohort , physiology , endocrinology , biology , genetics
Objective To determine the prevalence of vitamin B 12 deficiency and examine the associations between maternal and infant vitamin B 12 and folate status in a cohort of healthy pregnant adolescents. Design Serum vitamin B 12 and folate concentrations were measured in pregnant adolescents at mid‐gestation, delivery, and in cord blood. Linear and binomial regression models were used to examine the associations between maternal and infant vitamin B 12 and folate status. Results Serum vitamin B 12 concentrations decreased significantly during pregnancy (p<0.0001) resulting in an increased prevalence of vitamin B 12 deficiency (<148 pmol/L) from mid‐gestation (1.6%) to delivery (15.3%). At delivery, an additional 46.6% of mothers were vitamin B 12 insufficient (<200 pmol/L). Maternal vitamin B 12 concentrations (p<0.001) and vitamin B 12 deficiency (p<0.001) at delivery were associated with infant B 12 concentrations, with 1% of infants being vitamin B 12 deficient at birth. Similarly, maternal folate concentrations at delivery (p<0.001) were associated with infant folate concentrations. Conclusions Maternal vitamin B 12 and folate status at delivery predicted infant vitamin B 12 and folate status in healthy pregnant adolescents. Support or Funding Information Supported by grants from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): USDA 2005‐35200‐15218 and USDA 2010‐34324‐20769; and the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University