Folate and Iron Levels in Umbilical Cord Blood in Relation to Fetal Growth

Choi, Young Youn; Cho, Chang Yee; Song, Tae Bok

Abstract

Factors related to fetal growth have been extensively studied because the birth weight is one of the best indicators for child health status. Maternal weight gain during pregnancy, especially during third trimester, is significantly related to baby's birth weight, while deficiencies of maternal folate and iron are deleterious to the baby's physical status. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of umbilical cord concentrations of folate and iron to fetal growth and congenital anomalies. The 60 subjects studied were divided into three groups, 20 for each: term gestation and normal weight (group 1), term with low birth weight (group 2), and premature low birth weight (group 3). The results were as follows: baby's birth weights were 3,340+/-524, 2,365+/-276, 2,264+/-295 g; and the baby's length were 51.2+/-3.2, 50.7+/-3.9, 48.9+/-2.4 cm. Birth weights group 2 and 3 (term gestation with low birth weight and premature with low birth weight) were significantly lower (p<0.01) than that of group 1 (term with normal birth weight), however, the body length showed no difference. As for the umbillical cord folate, serum folate concentration showed no difference (37.5+/-17.9, 36.6+/-19.6, 35.7+/-21.0 ng/ml) among groups, but erythrocyte folate concentration of term babies with low birth weight and premature low birth weight group was significantly lower (p<0.01) than those with normal birth weight (464.3+/-172.2, 457.2+/-160.3 vs. 561.6+/-157.7 ng/ml). Serum folate concentration of umbilical cord did not correlate with birth weight or length; however, erythrocyte folate concentration was positively correlated with birth weight, but not with body length. Regarding the umbilical cord iron status, iron and ferritin concentrations showed no significant difference among three groups (78.6+/-32.4, 75.3+/-35.2, 76.8+/-32.7 micro gram/dl for iron, 80.7+/-42.7, 78.6+/-47.1, 79.5+/-43.2 micro gram/l for ferritin). There was no relation between umbilical cord iron and ferritin, and birth weight or length.