Korean J Nutr.  2003 May;36(4):389-396.

Effects of Maternal Serum B vitamins, Homocysteine Concentrations and the 5, 10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Polymorphism on Pregnancy Outcomes

• Kim KN
• Kim YJ
• Park H
• Chang N

Abstract

Maternal nutritional status has been shown to influence pregnancy outcomes. And the elevated maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated the effects of maternal serum levels of B vitamins and homocysteine, and the C677T MTHFR (5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) polymorphism on pregnancy outcomes. In 177 pregnant women of 24-28 wks of gestation, the MTHFR gene mutation, serum B vitamins and homocysteine concentrations were measured, and their pregnancy outcomes were investigated from medical records. The birth length, and 1- and 5-min Apgar scores of neonates in the T/T mothers were 45.4+/-9.3 cm, 7.6+/-3.2 and 8.5+/-3.8, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the C/T (48.6+/-3.3 cm, 9.0+/-0.2, 10.0+/-0.2) or the C/C mothers (49.4+/-1.9 cm, 9.0+/-0.2, 10.0+/-0.0). The birth weight, birth length and the gestational age of neonates at delivery from hyperhomocysteinemic mothers whose homocysteine levels higher than 15 micromol were 2.5+/-1.3 kg, 43.9+/-9.0 cm, 35.4+/-6.3 wk, respectively, which were significant lower than those from normohomocysteinemic mothers (3.1+/-0.6 kg, 48.8+/-3.6 cm, 38.5+/-2.5 wk). The birth weight and birth length of neonates in mothers whose PLP levels were below the median were significantly lower than those from mothers with the PLP levels above the median. The 1- and 5-min Apgar scores of neonates were lower in mothers with the T/T MTHFR genotype than those with the C/T or C/C only when the serum PLP levels were below the median. The 1-, 5 min Apgar scores and birth length of neonates were lower in mothers with the T/T MTHFR genotype than those with the C/T or C/C only when the serum FMN levels were below the median. In conclusion, maternal B vitamin status, homocysteine and the C677T MTHFR genotype seem to have played an important role on pregnancy outcomes.

Keyword

MTHFR polymorphism; folate; PLP; homocyateine; pregnancy outcomes

MeSH Terms

Birth Weight
Female
Flavin Mononucleotide
Folic Acid
Genotype
Gestational Age
Homocysteine*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Medical Records
Mothers
Nutritional Status
Oxidoreductases*
Parturition
Plasma
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome*
Pregnancy*
Pregnant Women
Vitamin B Complex*
Vitamins
Flavin Mononucleotide
Folic Acid
Homocysteine
Oxidoreductases
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamins