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Lazar VMA, Rahman S, Chowdhury NH, Hasan T, Akter S, Islam MS, Ahmed S, Baqui AH, Khanam R. Folate deficiency in pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth: A nested case-control study. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04120. [PMID: 38991209 PMCID: PMC11239188 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Preterm birth (PTB) and its complications are important public health problems. Its aetiology is multifactorial and involves both modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Among the modifiable risk factors, micronutrient deficiencies, including maternal folate deficiency, are increasingly being studied in PTB. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of folate deficiency during pregnancy and examined its association with PTB among rural Bangladeshi women. Methods We conducted a nested case-control study using data from a population-based cohort of 3000 pregnant women who were enrolled between 8 and 19 weeks of gestation following ultrasound confirmation of gestational age. Sociodemographic, epidemiologic, clinical, and pregnancy outcomes data were collected through home visits, while blood samples were collected at enrolment and 24-28 weeks of gestation during pregnancy. We included all women who delivered preterm (defined as live births <37 weeks of gestation) as cases (n = 235) and a random sample of women having a term birth as controls (n = 658). The main exposure was folate concentrations in maternal serum during 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. We categorised women into folate deficient (<3 ng/mL) and not deficient (≥3 ng/mL). We then performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the association between maternal folate levels and PTB, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results Thirty-eight per cent of the enrolled pregnant women were folate deficient. Maternal serum folate deficiency was significantly associated with PTB (adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.27-2.36). The risk of PTB was also higher among women who were of short stature (aOR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.27-2.63), primiparous (aOR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.15-2.22), and had exposure to passive smoking (aOR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.02-2.31). Conclusions The prevalence of folate deficiency was high among pregnant women in rural Bangladesh, and folate deficiency was significantly associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verna Mauren Amy Lazar
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sayedur Rahman
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | | | - Tarik Hasan
- Projahnmo Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sharmin Akter
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Abdullah H Baqui
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rasheda Khanam
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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The effect of prepregnancy body mass index on maternal micronutrient status: a meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18100. [PMID: 34518612 PMCID: PMC8437962 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97635-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and maternal micronutrient status is inconsistent and has not received sufficient attention. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of prepregnancy BMI on micronutrient levels in pregnant women. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles that contained information on micronutrient levels and prepregnancy BMI. A random-effects model was used to determine the association between prepregnancy BMI and maternal micronutrient status. Sixty-one eligible articles were eventually included, with 83,554 participants. Vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, iron and ferritin were the main micronutrients evaluated in our meta-analysis. Prepregnancy obesity and overweight may lead to an increased risk of micronutrient deficiency, including vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D deficiency, while prepregnancy obesity or overweight may have no significant association with ferritin deficiency. Additionally, the results of the dose-response analyses demonstrated a possible significant inverse correlation between prepregnancy BMI and levels of micronutrient, except for iron and ferritin. Compared with women with normal weight, women who were overweight or obese prepregnancy have lower micronutrient concentrations and are more likely to exhibit micronutrient deficiency during pregnancy, which is harmful to both mothers and neonates.
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Zhao X, Zhao Y, Ping Y, Chen L, Feng X. Association between gene polymorphism of folate metabolism and recurrent spontaneous abortion in Asia: A Meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e21962. [PMID: 33019388 PMCID: PMC7535684 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000021962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
To evaluate the association between gene polymorphisms of MTHFR (C677T, A1298C) and MTRR (A66G), and the recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) risk in Asia.Related case-control studies were collected, selected, and screened. A meta-analysis was conducted by Stata 12.0 software to assess the association between polymorphisms of target genes and RSA.Altogether 30 studies examining the relationship between genetic polymorphism of folate metabolism and RSA risk were included, among which 20 studies were related to MTHFR C677T, 11 to MTHFR A1298C and 6 to MTRR A66G. The studies suggested that MTHFR C677T polymorphism was closely connected with RSA risk under all models (P < .05). Furthermore according to the subgroup analysis of ethnicity, the correlation between C677T polymorphism and RSA was stronger in north of China when compared with south of China and other Asian countries (P > . 05). For MTHFR A1298C, it was closely related to RSA risk in all gene models except for (AC vs AA) (P < .05). However, when it comes to MTRR A66G, there was no significant correlation between gene A66G polymorphism and RSA risk except for the additive gene model (G vs A) (P < .05).The present evidence shows that the correlation between gene polymorphisms and RSA risk can be found in MTHFR C677T, A1298C (except for heterozygote model) and MTRR A66G (only in additive genotypes), and the detection of the correlated gene polymorphisms mentioned above is of certain guiding significance for preventing RSA and screening high-risk groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Zhao
- Department of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin
| | - Yang Zhao
- Hebei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang
| | - Yunlu Ping
- Department of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaoling Feng
- Department of First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
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Tuenter A, Bautista Nino PK, Vitezova A, Pantavos A, Bramer WM, Franco OH, Felix JF. Folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine in smoking-exposed pregnant women: A systematic review. MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION 2018; 15:e12675. [PMID: 30182513 PMCID: PMC6585731 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Smoking exposure is associated with pregnancy complications, as are levels of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine. In nonpregnant adults, smoking exposure is associated negatively with folate and vitamin B12 levels and positively with homocysteine levels. A complete overview of the literature on this topic in pregnant women is lacking. To evaluate evidence of associations of maternal smoking exposure during pregnancy and levels of folate, homocysteine, and vitamin B12 in pregnancy and in cord blood, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science, and reference lists of relevant studies until August 2017. We selected studies in pregnant women describing the association of passive or active smoking and levels of folate, homocysteine, and/or vitamin B12. Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. We included 32 studies of 2,015 identified references with a total of 37,822 participants and more than 6,000 smokers. Twenty‐eight studies measured folate, 14 measured vitamin B12, and 13 measured homocysteine. Nineteen out of 28 studies assessing folate reported significantly lower levels in pregnant women exposed to smoking compared with those unexposed. Vitamin B12 levels were lower in smoking mothers in eight out of 14 studies. Homocysteine levels tended to be higher in mothers exposed to smoking. Smoking exposure during pregnancy is generally associated with lower folate and vitamin B12 levels and higher homocysteine levels. This may help raise further awareness about the consequences of smoking and the need to encourage stopping smoking in all, especially in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelies Tuenter
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paula K Bautista Nino
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Vitezova
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Athanasios Pantavos
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wichor M Bramer
- Medical Library, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Oscar H Franco
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Janine F Felix
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Sharif ME, Mohamedain A, Ahmed AA, Nasr AM, Adam I. Folic acid level and preterm birth among Sudanese women. Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol 2017; 3:25. [PMID: 29214043 PMCID: PMC5709970 DOI: 10.1186/s40748-017-0065-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth (PTB) is the major health problem world-wide; there are few published studies on PTB and folic acid. METHODS The study was conducted to assess the serum level of folic acid in PTB. A case-control study was conducted at Saad Abualila maternity hospital (Khartoum, Sudan) during the period of March through December 2015. Women who delivered live singleton babies were dived in two groups; the cases were women who had PTB "delivery before completed 37weeks but after 24 weeks of pregnancy" and the controls were women who delivered at term (37-42 weeks). Medical and obstetrics history was gathered using questionnaire. Serum folic acid was measured. RESULTS One hundred and twelve (56 in arm of the study) women were enrolled to the study. There was no significant difference between the cases and the controls in their age, parity, hemoglobin, body mass index, education and occupation. The median (interquartile) level of folic acid was significantly lower in the cases (PTB) than the level in the controls, 4.8(2.8-8.2) vs. 9.5(8.6-12.0) ng/ml. In binary regression, folic acid level was associated with lower risk of PTB (OR=0.64; 95%=0.53-0.77, P < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between gestational age and folic acid level (r = 0.447, P<0.001). CONCLUSION Thus serum folic acid level was significantly lower in women with PTB. Folic acid level was associated with lower risk of PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal E. Sharif
- Faculty of Medicine, Al-Neelain University, P.O Box 12702, 11111 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ahmed Mohamedain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O Box 102, 11111 Khartoum, Sudan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, King Faisal University, Alhasa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - AbdelBagi A. Ahmed
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abubakr M. Nasr
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O Box 102, 11111 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ishag Adam
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O Box 102, 11111 Khartoum, Sudan
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Wang Y, Cao Z, Peng Z, Xin X, Zhang Y, Yang Y, He Y, Xu J, Ma X. Folic acid supplementation, preconception body mass index, and preterm delivery: findings from the preconception cohort data in a Chinese rural population. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2015; 15:336. [PMID: 26670558 PMCID: PMC4681173 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-015-0766-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Folic acid (FA) supplementation before and during the first trimester can reduce the risk of occurrence of preterm delivery (PTD). Preconception body mass index (BMI) is also associated with PTD. This study aimed to investigate the combined effect of FA supplements and preconception BMI on the risk of PTD. METHODS The data of a cohort from 2010-2011 that was obtained through a preconception care service in China was used (including 172,206 women). A multivariable regression model was used to investigate the association between maternal preconception conditions and the risk of PTD. The interaction of preconception BMI and FA supplementation was measured by a logistic regression model. RESULTS Taking FA supplements in the preconception period or in the first trimester reduced the risk of PTD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.58 and OR = 0.61, respectively). Women with an abnormal BMI had an increased risk of PTD (OR = 1.09, OR = 1.10, and OR = 1.17 for underweight, overweight, and obese, respectively). Preconception BMI showed an interaction with the protective effect of FA supplementation for PTD. With regard to the interaction of FA supplementation, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 0.57 (95% CI: 0.51, 0.64) in underweight women, 0.85 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.98) in overweight women, and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.65, 0.91) in obese women. Preconception BMI also showed an interaction with the time of FA supplementation. Women with a normal BMI who began to take FA supplements in the preconception period had the lowest risk of PTD (aORs: 0.58 vs. 0.65 beginning in the first trimester). The aORs at preconception and the first trimester in the underweight group were 0.56 vs. 0.60. The aORs at preconception and the first trimester were 0.94 vs. 0.65 and 1.15 vs. 0.60 in the overweight and obesity groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In our study, FA supplements reduced the risk of PTD, while abnormal BMI raised the risk of PTD, although higher BMI categories did not have this higher risk once adjusted analysis was conducted. The protective effect of FA supplementation for PTD was reduced in women with overweight or obesity. To get better protection of FA supplementation, women with normal BMI or underweight should begin to use in preconception, while women with overweight or obesity should begin to use after conception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Wang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, No. 9, Dongdansantiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Zongfu Cao
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, No. 9, Dongdansantiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Zuoqi Peng
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Xiaona Xin
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, No. 9, Dongdansantiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Ya Zhang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Ying Yang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Yuan He
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Jihong Xu
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Xu Ma
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, No. 12, Dahuisi Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, China.
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, No. 9, Dongdansantiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Hekmatdoost A, Vahid F, Yari Z, Sadeghi M, Eini-Zinab H, Lakpour N, Arefi S. Methyltetrahydrofolate vs Folic Acid Supplementation in Idiopathic Recurrent Miscarriage with Respect to Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T and A1298C Polymorphisms: A Randomized Controlled Trial. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143569. [PMID: 26630680 PMCID: PMC4668025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To determine whether 5-methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHF) is more effective than folic acid supplementation in treatment of recurrent abortion in different MTHFR gene C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. Methods A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted April 2011-September 2014 in recurrent abortion clinics in Tehran, Iran. The participants were women with three or more idiopathic recurrent abortion, aged 20 to 45 years. Two hundred and twenty eligible women who consented to participate were randomly assigned to receive either folic acid or 5-MTHF according to the stratified blocked randomization by age and the number of previous abortions. Participants took daily 1 mg 5-methylentetrahydrofolate or 1 mg folic acid from at least 8 weeks before conception to the 20th week of the pregnancy. The primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy rate at 20th week of pregnancy, and the secondary outcomes were serum folate and homocysteine at the baseline, after 8 weeks, and at the gestational age of 4, 8, 12, and 20 weeks, MTHFR gene C677T and A1298C polymorphisms. Results There was no significant difference in abortion rate between two groups. Serum folate increased significantly in both groups over time; these changes were significantly higher in the group receiving 5-MTHF than the group receiving folic acid (value = 2.39, p<00.1) and the result was the same by considering the time (value = 1.24, p<0.01). Plasma tHcys decreased significantly in both groups over time; however these changes were not significantly different between the groups (value = 0.01, p = 0.47). Conclusion The results do not support any beneficial effect of 5-MTHF vs. folate supplementation in women with recurrent abortion with any MTHFR C677T and/or A1298C polymorphism. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01976676
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Affiliation(s)
- Azita Hekmatdoost
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology, Research Institute Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farhad Vahid
- National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Students' Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Yari
- National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Students' Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Sadeghi
- Department of Andrology and Embryology, Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Eini-Zinab
- Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology, Research Institute Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niknam Lakpour
- Department of Andrology and Embryology, Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Arefi
- Department of Endocrinology, Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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Carcopino X, Barde K, Petrovic M, Beucher G, Capmas P, Huchon C, Deffieux X, d’Ercole C, Bretelle F. Menace de fausse couche tardive. Recommandations françaises. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 43:842-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jgyn.2014.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Study of epidemiology of pregnancy loss. MATERIALS AND METHOD A systematic review of the literature was performed using Pubmed and the Cochrane library databases and the guidelines from main international societies. RESULTS The occurrence of first trimester miscarriage is 12% of pregnancies and 25% of women. Miscarriage risk factors are ages of woman and man, body mass index greater than or equal to 25kg/m(2), excessive coffee drinking, smoking and alcohol consumption, exposure to magnetic fields and ionizing radiation, history of abortion, some fertility disorders and impaired ovarian reserve. Late miscarriage (LM) complicates less than 1% of pregnancies. Identified risk factors are maternal age, low level of education, living alone, history of previous miscarriage, of premature delivery and of previous termination of pregnancy, any uterine malformation, trachelectomy, existing bacterial vaginosis, amniocentesis, a shortened cervix and a dilated cervical os with prolapsed membranes. Fetal death in utero has a prevalence of 2% in the world and 5/1000 in France. Its main risk factors are detailed in the chapter.
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Kishi R, Kobayashi S, Ikeno T, Araki A, Miyashita C, Itoh S, Sasaki S, Okada E, Kobayashi S, Kashino I, Itoh K, Nakajima S. Ten years of progress in the Hokkaido birth cohort study on environment and children's health: cohort profile--updated 2013. Environ Health Prev Med 2014; 18:429-50. [PMID: 23959649 DOI: 10.1007/s12199-013-0357-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health is an ongoing cohort study that began in 2002. The study consists of two prospective birth cohorts, the Sapporo cohort (n = 514) and the Hokkaido large-scale cohort (n = 20,940). The primary goals of this study are to first examine the potential negative effects of perinatal environmental chemical exposures on birth outcomes, including congenital malformations and growth retardation; second, to evaluate the development of allergies, infectious diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders and perform longitudinal observations of the children's physical development to clarify the causal relationship between these outcomes and environmental chemicals; third, to identify individuals genetically susceptible to environmental chemicals; finally, to identify the additive effects of various environmental factors in our daily life, such as secondhand smoke exposure or low folate intake during early pregnancy. In this paper, we introduce our recent progress in the Hokkaido study with a cohort profile updated in 2013. For the last ten years, we followed pregnant women and their offspring, measuring various environmental chemicals, i.e., PCB, OH-PCB and dioxins, PFCs (Perfluorinated Compounds), Organochlorine pesticides, Phthalates, bisphenol A and mercury. We discovered that the concentration of toxic equivalents (TEQ) of dioxin and other specific congeners of PCDF or PCDD have effects on birth weight, infants' neurodevelopment and immune function. There were significant gender differences in these effects; our results suggest that male infants have more susceptibility to those chemical exposures than female infants. Interestingly, we found maternal genetic polymorphisms in AHR, CYP1A1 or GSTs that significantly modified the dioxin concentrations in maternal blood, suggesting different dioxin accumulations in the bodies of individuals with these genotypes, which would lead to different dioxin exposure levels. These genetic susceptibility factors influenced the body size of children born from mothers that either smoked or were passively exposed to tobacco smoke. Further studies investigating the correlation between epigenetics, the effects of intrauterine exposure to environmental chemicals and developmental factors related to health and disease are warranted.
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Bortolus R, Blom F, Filippini F, van Poppel MNM, Leoncini E, de Smit DJ, Benetollo PP, Cornel MC, de Walle HEK, Mastroiacovo P. Prevention of congenital malformations and other adverse pregnancy outcomes with 4.0 mg of folic acid: community-based randomized clinical trial in Italy and the Netherlands. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2014; 14:166. [PMID: 24884885 PMCID: PMC4045958 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-14-166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2010 a Cochrane review confirmed that folic acid (FA) supplementation prevents the first- and second-time occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs). At present some evidence from observational studies supports the hypothesis that FA supplementation can reduce the risk of all congenital malformations (CMs) or the risk of a specific and selected group of them, namely cardiac defects and oral clefts. Furthermore, the effects on the prevention of prematurity, foetal growth retardation and pre-eclampsia are unclear.Although the most common recommendation is to take 0.4 mg/day, the problem of the most appropriate dose of FA is still open.The aim of this project is to assess the effect a higher dose of peri-conceptional FA supplementation on reducing the occurrence of all CMs. Other aims include the promotion of pre-conceptional counselling, comparing rates of selected CMs, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, small for gestational age, abruptio placentae. METHODS/DESIGN This project is a joint effort by research groups in Italy and the Netherlands. Women of childbearing age, who intend to become pregnant within 12 months are eligible for the studies. Women are randomly assigned to receive 4 mg of FA (treatment in study) or 0.4 mg of FA (referent treatment) daily. Information on pregnancy outcomes are derived from women-and-physician information.We foresee to analyze the data considering all the adverse outcomes of pregnancy taken together in a global end point (e.g.: CMs, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, small for gestational age). A total of about 1,000 pregnancies need to be evaluated to detect an absolute reduction of the frequency of 8%. Since the sample size needed for studying outcomes separately is large, this project also promotes an international prospective meta-analysis. DISCUSSION The rationale of these randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is the hypothesis that a higher intake of FA is related to a higher risk reduction of NTDs, other CMs and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our hope is that these trials will act as catalysers, and lead to other large RCTs studying the effects of this supplementation on CMs and other infant and maternal outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION Italian trial: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01244347.Dutch trial: Dutch Trial Register ID: NTR3161.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Bortolus
- Office for Research Promotion, Department of the Hospital Management and Pharmacy, Verona University Hospital, P.le A. Stefani, 1-37126 Verona, Italy
| | - Fenneke Blom
- Community Genetics, Department of Clinical Genetics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Francesca Filippini
- Office for Research Promotion, Department of the Hospital Management and Pharmacy, Verona University Hospital, P.le A. Stefani, 1-37126 Verona, Italy
| | - Mireille NM van Poppel
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Emanuele Leoncini
- Alessandra Lisi International Centre on Birth Defects and Prematurity-ICBD, WHO Collaborating Centre, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Martina C Cornel
- Community Genetics, Department of Clinical Genetics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hermien EK de Walle
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Pierpaolo Mastroiacovo
- Alessandra Lisi International Centre on Birth Defects and Prematurity-ICBD, WHO Collaborating Centre, Rome, Italy
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Folic acid supplementation and preterm birth: results from observational studies. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:481914. [PMID: 24724083 PMCID: PMC3958780 DOI: 10.1155/2014/481914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Revised: 01/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Folic acid (FA) supplementation is recommended worldwide in the periconceptional period for the prevention of neural tube defects. Due to its involvement in a number of cellular processes, its role in other pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage, recurrent miscarriage, low birth weight, preterm birth (PTB), preeclampsia, abruptio placentae, and stillbirth has been investigated. PTB is a leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity; therefore its association with FA supplementation is of major interest. The analysis of a small number of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) has not found a beneficial role of FA in reducing the rate of PTBs. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this review was to examine the results from recent observational studies about the effect of FA supplementation on PTB. MATERIALS AND METHODS We carried out a search on Medline and by manual search of the observational studies from 2009 onwards that analyzed the rate of PTB in patients who received supplementation with FA before and/or throughout pregnancy. RESULTS The results from recent observational studies suggest a slight reduction of PTBs that is not consistent with the results from RCTs. Further research is needed to better understand the role of FA supplementation before and during pregnancy in PTB.
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