CHANGES OF SOME VITAMIN LEVELS DURING AND AFTER NORMAL-PREGNANCY

Most vitamin status parameters change significantly during pregnancy. A number of factors have been associated with this hypovitaminaemia of pregnancy. From our data, it was concluded that the initial value of a vitamin status parameter was by far the main determinant of the chan ges of vitamin levels during pregnancy: the higher the value, the stee per the decrease. Some hormonal variables were associated with these c hanges as well. This is highly suggestive of a resetting of vitamin ho meostasis in blood, with a retention of vitamins in maternal tissues. The postpartum changes of vitamin levels provide insight into the 'net cost' of vitamins during pregnancy. Most serum blood levels of vitami ns normalized shortly after delivery. Serum vitamin B-6 levels increas ed slowly with 25% below the acceptable range at 6 months postpartum. However, the GGOT stimulation ratio, indicative for vitamin B-6 cellul ar content, was completely normal at the time. Serum folacin was the o nly exception, with 45% serum levels in the marginal or deficient rang e; 20% of this group had deficient or marginal red cell folacin levels as well. This indicates that the 'net cost' of folacin during pregnan cy is considerable, and repletion of folacin stores takes more than 6 months.