Maternal periconceptional biochemical and hematological parameters, vitamin profiles and pregnancy outcome

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 57; no. 9; pp. 1128 - 1134
• Main Authors: DE WEERD, S, STEEGERS-THEUNISSEN, R. P. M, DE BOO, T. M, THOMAS, C. M. G, STEEGERS, E. A. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01-09-2003; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Abortion, Spontaneous - blood; Adult; Amenorrhea; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Birth weight; Birth Weight - physiology; Blood; Blood Proteins - analysis; Clinical nutrition; Creatinine - blood; Embryogenesis; Embryonic growth stage; Female; Ferritin; Folic acid; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Health care facilities; Hematocrit; Hematologic Tests; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Hospitals; Humans; Iron; Longitudinal studies; Medical sciences; Netherlands; Nutrition; Nutritional Status - physiology; Parameters; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Preconception Care; Pregnancy; Pregnancy - blood; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Studies; Regression Analysis; Riboflavin; Risk Factors; Thiamine; Tocopherol; Uric acid; Uric Acid - blood; Vitamin A; Vitamin B12; Vitamins; Vitamins - blood; Weight reduction; Netherlands; Prognosis; preconception; Nutrition; Vitamin; early pregnancy loss; blood nutrients; Blood; Feeding; vitamin profiles; Early pregnancy; Nutrient; Birth weight; maternal nutrition
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601654

To evaluate periconceptional maternal biochemical and hematological parameters and vitamin profiles in relation to the risk of early pregnancy loss and birth weight.
Prospective longitudinal study.
University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Maria and Elisabeth Hospitals, Tilburg, and Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
A cohort of 240 women recruited before pregnancy.
Blood samples were taken preconceptional and at 6 and 10 weeks amenorrhea in which the concentrations of hemoglobin, hematocrit, creatinin, uric acid, total protein, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, ferritin, and the concentrations of retinol, tocopherol, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate, cobalamin and folate were analyzed.
Risk of early pregnancy loss and birth weight.
The risk of early pregnancy loss increased with increasing prepregnancy weight, and when the periconceptional decline in hematocrit, creatinin and uric acid was less profound (slope: P<0.01). Maternal smoking was negatively associated with birth weight (mean reduction of 183 g, P<0.05). Maternal age and prepregnancy weight were positively associated with birth weight (P<0.01). No significant associations were found between vitamin concentrations and risk of early pregnancy loss or birth weight.
Several periconceptional biochemical parameters are significantly associated with early pregnancy loss. The effects of maternal periconceptional health on embryonic development and subsequent pregnancy outcome should be further explored.
Dutch Prevention fund, grants no. 28.1358 and 28.1006.