Peker, ErdalDemir, NihatTuncer, OguzUstyol, LokmanBalahoroglu, RagipKaba, SultanKaraman, Kamuran2025-05-102025-05-1020161476-70581476-495410.3109/14767058.2015.11096202-s2.0-84947903190https://doi.org/10.3109/14767058.2015.1109620https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14720/15092Demir, Nihat/0000-0003-3287-7221The 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.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessFolateHomocysteineNeural Tube DefectNewbornVitamin B12Article2918Q4Q22944294826479326WOS:000377257600009