Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency and abnormal cell-free DNA results in pregnancy

Vitamin B12 is known to be vital for cell growth and population during pregnancy. This retrospective and prospective case−control study was aimed to disclose a health risk for pregnant women with vitamin B12 deficiency, as well as the one of the preterm birth. The main tasks set and performed in this research were as follows: to compare the obstetrics anamnesis between the women who gave birth on term and women who gave birth before term; to find the prevalence of vitamin B12 insufficiency in pregnancy; to determine its association with preterm birth and low birth weight; to examine its association with spontaneous abortions, and to investigate its relationship with obesity and hemoglobin levels in pregnant women. The conducted investigation involved 107 women who gave birth before the 37th week of gestation and 101 women who gave birth after the 37th week of gestation at the outpatient clinic of the University Hospital "Maichin Dom" in Bulgaria. Our study revealed a correlation between maternal vitamin B12 deficiency, overweight and low hemoglobin level. Our results showed no significant correlation between serum vitamin B12 level and the risk of preterm birth. However, we found an inverse association between vitamin B12 level and overweight before pregnancy and at the time of giving birth. As well there was confirmed the strong connection between meat consumption and vitamin B12 level. The paper emphasizes that the deficiency of the vitamin occurs most likely in the women with inadequate diets. Such a deficiency is actually confirmed to have serious health consequences for pregnant women and their offspring. Therefore further profound and numerous studies should be performed to properly assess the correlation between vitamin B12 and preterm birth, as well as to understand better the impact of vitamin B12 over pregnant women. Key words: vitamin B12, preterm birth, pregnancy, overweight, hemoglobin.

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Severe Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Pregnancy Mimicking HELLP Syndrome

Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/2019/4325647 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Shravya Govindappagari ◽

Michelle Nguyen ◽

Megha Gupta ◽

Ramy M. Hanna ◽

Richard M. Burwick

Keyword(s):

Vitamin B12 ◽

Pernicious Anemia ◽

Thrombotic Microangiopathy ◽

Hellp Syndrome ◽

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Severe Vitamin ◽

Elevated Liver Enzymes ◽

B12 Deficiency ◽

In Pregnancy

Severe vitamin B12 deficiency may present with hematologic abnormalities that mimic thrombotic microangiopathy disorders such as hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. We report a patient diagnosed with severe vitamin B12 deficiency, following termination of pregnancy for suspected preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome at 21 weeks’ gestation. When hemolysis and thrombocytopenia persisted after delivery, testing was performed to rule out other etiologies of thrombotic microangiopathy, including atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and vitamin B12 deficiency. This work-up revealed undetectable vitamin B12 levels and presence of intrinsic factor antibodies, consistent with pernicious anemia. Parenteral B12 supplementation was initiated, with subsequent improvement in hematologic parameters. Our case emphasizes the importance of screening for B12 deficiency in pregnancy, especially in at-risk women with unexplained anemia or thrombocytopenia. Moreover, providers should consider B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia in the differential diagnosis of pregnancy-associated thrombotic microangiopathy.

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Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids during gestation and lactation to a vitamin B12-deficient or -supplemented diet improves pregnancy outcome and metabolic variables in Wistar rats

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd13306 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 341 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Amrita Khaire ◽

Richa Rathod ◽

Nisha Kemse ◽

Anvita Kale ◽

Sadhana Joshi

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Pregnancy Outcome ◽

Wistar Rats ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Pufa Supplementation ◽

Maternal Vitamin ◽

B12 Deficiency ◽

Acid Status ◽

Metabolic Variables

Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency leads to an adverse pregnancy outcome and increases the risk for developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome in mothers in later life. Our earlier studies have demonstrated that vitamin B12 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are interlinked in the one carbon cycle. The present study for the first time examines the effect of maternal n-3 PUFA supplementation to vitamin B12 deficient or supplemented diets on pregnancy outcome, fatty-acid status and metabolic variables in Wistar rats. Pregnant dams were assigned to one of the following groups: control, vitamin B12 deficient, vitamin B12 supplemented, vitamin B12 deficient + n-3 PUFA or vitamin B12 supplemented + n-3 PUFA. The amount of vitamin B12 in the supplemented group was 0.50 μg kg–1 diet and n-3 PUFA was alpha linolenic acid (ALA) 1.68, eicosapentaenoic acid 5.64, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 3.15 (g per 100 g fatty acids per kg diet). Our findings indicate that maternal vitamin B12 supplementation did not affect the weight gain of dams during pregnancy but reduced litter size and weight and was ameliorated by n-3 PUFA supplementation. Vitamin B12 deficiency or supplementation resulted in a low percentage distribution of plasma arachidonic acid and DHA. n-3 PUFA supplementation to these diets improved the fatty-acid status. Vitamin B12 deficiency resulted in higher homocysteine and insulin levels, which were normalised by supplementation with either vitamin B12 or n-3 PUFA. Our study suggests that maternal vitamin B12 status is critical in determining pregnancy outcome and metabolic variables in dams and that supplementation with n-3 PUFA is beneficial.

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Review of Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy a diagnosis not to miss as veganism and vegetarianism become more prevalent

European Journal Of Haematology ◽

10.1111/ejh.13571 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sabia Rashid ◽

Violet Meier ◽

Hannah Patrick

Keyword(s):

Vitamin B12 ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

B12 Deficiency ◽

In Pregnancy

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P-BN005. Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with increased oxidative stress and DNA damage in brain regions of C57BL/6 mouse offspring

Clinical Neurophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.clinph.2021.02.300 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 132 (8) ◽

pp. e122

Author(s):

Shampa Ghosh ◽

Jitendra Kumar Sinha ◽

Manchala Raghunath

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Dna Damage ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Maternal Vitamin ◽

B12 Deficiency

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Severe Anaemia during Late Pregnancy

Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1155/2012/485452 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mahenaz Akhtar ◽

Ismail Hassan

Keyword(s):

Vitamin B12 ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Severe Anaemia ◽

Blood Transfusions ◽

Deficiency Anaemia ◽

History Of ◽

B12 Deficiency ◽

Folate And Vitamin B12 ◽

In Pregnancy

Vitamin B12 deficiency is uncommon in pregnancy, it occurs in 10–28% of uncomplicated pregnancies, and is associated with a few complications. We present a case report of a 21-year-old patient with severe anaemia during late pregnancy caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. At 38 weeks gestation and with a BMI of 48.9, a history of rupture of membranes was given but not confirmed. On examination, she appeared pale and therefore full blood counts were done. Interestingly her haemoglobin (Hb) levels were 3.7 g/dL. Folate and vitamin B12 levels were also found to be low, and the diagnosis of anaemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency was made. After treatment with vitamin B12 injections, folic acid and blood transfusions, the patient’s haemoglobin levels improved from 3.7 g/dL to 10.7 g/dL. The conclusion is that effective history taking, diagnosis, and management can prevent many complications that are usually associated with vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia.

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Assessment of the Vitamin B12 Status of Pregnant Women in Nigeria Using Plasma Holotranscobalamin

ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.5402/2011/365894 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Dorothy J. VanderJagt ◽

Innocent A. O. Ujah ◽

Eugene I. Ikeh ◽

Jessica Bryant ◽

Victor Pam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin B12 ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Neural Tube ◽

Neural Tube Defects ◽

Independent Risk Factor ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Antenatal Clinic ◽

Plasma Homocysteine ◽

Maternal Vitamin ◽

B12 Deficiency

Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for neural tube defects and other neurological problems in infants. We determined the vitamin B12 status of 143 pregnant women in Nigeria representing all trimesters who presented to an antenatal clinic in Jos, Nigeria, using holotranscobalamin II levels (holoTCII), which is a measure of the vitamin B12 that is available for uptake into tissues. The holoTCII concentration ranged from 13 to 128 pmol/L. Using a cutoff of 40 pmol/L, 36% of the women were classified as vitamin B12-deficient. HoloTCII concentrations correlated negatively with plasma homocysteine levels (, ) and positively with red blood cell folate concentrations (, ). These data underscore the importance of supplementing pregnant women in Nigeria with vitamin B12 in order to ensure adequate vitamin B12 status and decrease the risk for neural tube defects.

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Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency and perinatal outcomes in southern India

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0248145 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0248145

Author(s):

Julia L. Finkelstein ◽

Amy Fothergill ◽

Jesse T. Krisher ◽

Tinku Thomas ◽

Anura V. Kurpad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infant Health ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Future Research ◽

Vitamin B ◽

Infant Outcomes ◽

Maternal Vitamin ◽

B12 Deficiency ◽

In Pregnancy

Background Vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with adverse maternal and infant health outcomes. Few prospective studies have investigated vitamin B12 status early in pregnancy, and its links to infant vitamin B12 status, particularly in India where the burden of vitamin B12 deficiency is estimated to be the highest globally. The objective of this study was to examine the associations of maternal vitamin B12 biomarkers with neonatal vitamin B12 status. Methods Pregnant women (~12 weeks’ gestation) were enrolled in a perinatal cohort study in Bangalore, India. Total vitamin B12, methylmalonic acid (MMA), and homocysteine concentrations were evaluated in maternal samples at enrollment and in neonates at birth using cord blood. Linear and binomial regression models were used to evaluate the associations of maternal vitamin B12 biomarkers with neonatal vitamin B12 status and perinatal outcomes. Results A total of 63.2% of women had vitamin B12 deficiency (<148 pmol/L), 87.2% had vitamin B12 insufficiency (<221 pmol/L), and 47.3% had impaired vitamin B12 status (vitamin B12<148 pmol/L and MMA>0.26μmol/L) at enrollment; 40.8% of neonates had vitamin B12 deficiency, 65.6% were insufficiency, and 38.1% had impaired vitamin B12 status at birth. Higher maternal vitamin B12 concentrations at enrollment were associated with increased neonatal vitamin B12 concentrations (β(SE): 0.40 (0.05); p<0.0001) and lower risk of neonatal vitamin B12 deficiency (Risk Ratio [RR]: 0.53; 95% CI: [0.43, 0.65]; p<0.0001). Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency (RR: 1.97 [1.43, 2.71]; p<0.001), insufficiency (RR: 2.18 [1.23, 3.85]; p = 0.007), and impaired vitamin B12 status (RR: 1.49 [1.13, 1.97]; p = 0.005) predicted a two-fold increase in the risk of neonatal vitamin B12 deficiency at birth. Conclusions The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was high early in pregnancy and predicted neonatal vitamin B12 status. Future research is needed to determine the role of vitamin B12 in the development of pregnancy and infant outcomes, and to inform screening and interventions to improve maternal and child health.

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