Vitamin B₁₂ and folate statuses are associated with diet in pregnant women, but not with anthropometric measurements in term newborns

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the frequencies of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in pregnant women in low socioeconomic group, the relation between the animal-source foods consumption and maternal vitamin B12-folate statuses, and their impacts on anthropometric measurements of the infants. Methods: A total of 208 pregnant women in the last trimester were included in the study. A questionnaire about socio-demographic status, consumption of meat, egg, milk-dairy products, multivitamin supplementation was used. Vitamin B₁₂ and folate concentrations were studied by chemiluminescence method. The babies of Vitamin B₁₂ deficient mothers were evaluated after birth. Results: The rate of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency was 47.6% and folate deficiency was 17.3% of pregnant women. Animal food consumption was inadequate about half of pregnant women and vitamin B₁₂ levels in these women were significantly low. There were no statistically significant relationships between the birth weight, birth length and head circumference measurements, and maternal vitamin B₁₂ and folate concentrations. Conclusion: The rate of vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnant women in low socioeconomic population is high. Although there were no significant effects of the vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies on birth size, additional studies are required to elucidate the subsequent effects.

Keywords::

• Anthropometric measurements
• folate
• maternal diet
• newborn
• vitamin B₁₂

Declaration of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.