Chronic ethanol exposure and folic acid supplementation: Fetal growth and folate status in the maternal and fetal guinea pig

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 500-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy J. Hewitt ◽  
Amber L. Knuff ◽  
Matthew J. Jefkins ◽  
Christine P. Collier ◽  
James N. Reynolds ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Lucía Iglesias-Vázquez ◽  
Núria Serrat ◽  
Cristina Bedmar ◽  
Meritxell Pallejà-Millán ◽  
Victoria Arija

Abstract This research evaluates the prevalence of inadequate folate status in early pregnancy, the pattern of prenatal folic acid (FA) supplementation and associated factors in Spanish pregnant women from the ECLIPSES study, which included 791 participants prior gestational week 12. A cross-sectional evaluation of red blood cell (RBC) folate levels was performed at recruitment and used to calculate the prevalence of folate deficiency (RBC folate<340 nmol/L) and insufficiency (RBC folate<906 nmol/L). Sociodemographic and lifestyle data, as well as information on prenatal FA supplementation were recorded. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. The prevalence of folate deficiency and insufficiency were 9.6% and 86.5%, respectively. Most of women used prenatal FA supplements but only 6.3% did so as recommended. Supplementation with FA during the periconceptional period abolished folate deficiency and reduced folate insufficiency. Prenatal folic acid supplementation with ≥1000 µg/d in periconceptional time and pregnancy planning increased RBC folate levels. The main risk factor for folate insufficiency in early pregnancy were getting prenatal FA supplementation out of the periconceptional time (OR 3.32, 95%CI 1.02–15.36), while for folate deficiency they were young age (OR 2.02, 95%CI 1.05–3.99), and smoking (OR 2.39, 95%CI 1.30–4.37). In addition, social and ethnic differences according to folate status were also identified. As conclusion, periconceptional FA use is crucial for achieving optimal folate levels in early pregnancy. Pregnancy planning should focus on young women, smokers, those with low consumption of folate-rich foods, low socioeconomic status or from ethnic minorities.


2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ligi Paul ◽  
Cristina Razzari ◽  
Francesca Sampietro ◽  
Gessica Fontana ◽  
Isabella Fermo ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Lilianne Abramsson-Zetterberg ◽  
Louise J.K. Durling ◽  
Fan Yang-Wallentin ◽  
Elisabet Rytter ◽  
Bengt Vessby

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 777-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Timmermans ◽  
Vincent W. V. Jaddoe ◽  
Albert Hofman ◽  
Régine P. M. Steegers-Theunissen ◽  
Eric A. P. Steegers

Countries worldwide, including the Netherlands, recommend that women planning pregnancy use a folic acid supplement during the periconception period. Some countries even fortify staple foods with folic acid. These recommendations mainly focus on the prevention of neural tube defects, despite increasing evidence that folic acid may also influence birth weight. We examined whether periconception folic acid supplementation affects fetal growth and the risks of low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth, in the Generation R Study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Main outcome measures were fetal growth measured in mid- and late pregnancy by ultrasound, birth weight, SGA and preterm birth in relation to periconception folic supplementation (0·4–0·5 mg). Data on 6353 pregnancies were available. Periconception folic acid supplementation was positively associated with fetal growth. Preconception folic acid supplementation was associated with 68 g higher birth weight (95 % CI 37·2, 99·0) and 13 g higher placental weight (95 % CI 1·1, 25·5), compared to no folic acid supplementation. In these analyses parity significantly modified the effect estimates. Start of folic acid supplementation after pregnancy confirmation was associated with a reduced risk of low birth weight (OR 0·61, 95 % CI 0·40, 0·94). Similarly, reduced risks for low birth weight and SGA were observed for women who started supplementation preconceptionally, compared to those who did not use folic acid (OR 0·43, 95 % CI 0·28, 0·69 and OR 0·40, 95 % CI 0·22, 0·72). In conclusion, periconception folic acid supplementation is associated with increased fetal growth resulting in higher placental and birth weight, and decreased risks of low birth weight and SGA.


2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie A Holmes ◽  
Julie MW Wallace ◽  
H Denis Alexander ◽  
William S Gilmore ◽  
Ian Bradbury ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In many countries, current recommendations are that women take a daily 400-μg folic acid supplement from before conception until the end of the 12th week of gestation for the prevention of neural tube defects. Low folate status is associated with an increased concentration of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), a risk factor associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Methods: In a longitudinal study, we determined tHcy and corresponding folate status in 101 pregnant women at 12, 20, and 35 weeks of gestation, in 35 nonpregnant controls sampled concurrently, and in a subgroup (n = 21 pregnant women and 19 nonpregnant controls) at 3 days postpartum. Results: Plasma tHcy was significantly lower throughout pregnancy compared with nonpregnant controls, with values lowest in the second trimester before increasing toward nonpregnant values in the third trimester. Importantly, mean tHcy concentrations were lower in pregnant women taking folic acid supplements than in those not, an effect that reached significance in the third trimester (5.45 vs 7.40 μmol/L; P &lt;0.05). During the third trimester, tHcy concentrations were significantly higher in pregnant women with a history of miscarriage than in women with no previous history (8.15 vs 6.38 μmol/L; P &lt;0.01). Conclusions: This is the first longitudinal study to show that homocysteine concentrations increase in late pregnancy toward nonpregnant values; an increase that can be limited by enhancing folate status through continued folic acid supplementation. These results indicate a potential role for continued folic acid supplementation in reducing pregnancy complications associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.


Alcohol ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Chiu ◽  
J.F Brien ◽  
P Wu ◽  
J.H Eubanks ◽  
L Zhang ◽  
...  

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