Folate Status During Labor: Relationship with Pregnancy Outcome

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine the folate status of pregnant women at labor, and to detect probable relationships with the gestational age at delivery, the birth weight of the newborns, as well as the mode of the delivery, taking into account any changes in the fetal heart rate (FHR) at labor and, subsequently, operative delivery.

Methods: Maternal serum folate levels were determined using automated fluorometric enzyme-linked assays. Gestational age was determined by ultrasound in the first trimester followed by serial fetal biometry.

Results: The results of our study in 101 consecutive pregnant women revealed that the mean (±SD) maternal serum concentration of the folate during labor was 12.01 (±4.16) ng/ml (range 2.50-23). The mean (±SD) gestational age at labor was 38.5 (±1.2) weeks (range 35-41 wks) as also the mean (±SD) birth weight of the newborns was 3.217 (±403) g (range 2,000-4,250 g).

Conclusions: No significant correlation (p > 0.05) between folate levels of the maternal serum and gestational age at delivery or birth weight was found. The mode of delivery as a result of probable relationship between operative delivery and maternal serum folate levels was also not found.

Key Words:

• folate
• pregnancy
• birth weight