Abstract
Objective: To estimate the association of anembryonic pregnancy with 55 elements, homocysteine, folate and S-adenosylhomocysteine in pregnant women.
Methods: Thirty cases of anembryonic pregnancy were diagnosed using ultrasound scanning that showed an empty gestation sac with no embryo pole in the uterus. Additionally, thirty women with normal pregnancy were followed through the delivery a live and normal baby. The cases and controls were matched by age and week of gestation. Levels of 55 elements, homocysteine, folate and S-adenosylhomocysteine in women with anembryonic pregnancies were compared with those of the women experiencing normal pregnancies.
Results: Women with anembryonic pregnancies had statistically significantly lower levels of folate and 10 elements including V, Ti, Li, Cd, Sr, Rb, P, Na, K, and B than did women experiencing normal pregnancies. However, they had higher homocysteine and Ge levels than did the controls.
Conclusions: The levels of multiple nutrients including folate, 11 elements and homocysteine may be associated with the risk of anembryonic pregnancy.
This study was supported by NSFC (grant number 30671156), BSFC (grant number 5072014) and the 973 project (grant number 2001CB5103) of National Ministry of Science, People's Republic of China.