The Levels of Vitamin B12, Folate and Homocysteine in Mothers and Their Babies With Neural Tube Defects

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the serum levels of vitamin B-12, folate, and homocysteine (Hcy) in mothers and their babies, and to assess the association between these levels and neural tube defect (NTD). The study group included 92 baby-mother pairs, where the babies had NTD, and the control group included 102 pairs, where the babies had no NTD, from May 2012 to May 2015. Plasma vitamin B-12, folate, and Hcy levels of the babies and mothers were measured, and compared with each other. NTD was diagnosed in 2.6% of our babies. The vitamin B-12 levels in the mothers and the babies in the study group were determined as 166.2 +/- 63.7 pg/mL and 240.3 +/- 120.3 pg/mL, and in the control group as 1 9 0 +/- 80.2 pg/mL and 299.5 +/- 151.4 pg/mL, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of both the mothers' and the babies' vitamin B-12 levels (p = 0.024 and p = 0.003, respectively). The plasma folate levels of the mothers in the study group (5.2 +/- 3 ng/mL) were significantly lower than control group (6.4 +/- 4.3 ng/mL, p = 0.032). The plasma Hcy level of the mothers in the study group (9.3 +/- 3.8 mu mol/L) was significantly higher than the control group (7 +/- 3.8 mu mol/L, p<0.001). High plasma Hcy levels and low plasma folate and vitamin B-12 levels are risk factors for NTD. Our results show that the risk for NTD can be decreased by fortification of mothers-to-be, particularly in rural areas with folate and vitamin B-12 deficiency, which would lower the plasma Hcy level.