BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN DURING 3 TRIMESTERS OF PREGNANCY AND AT DELIVERY

The data presented are the results from a prospective observational st udy which was conducted to investigate the effects of nutrition and ot her related factors on the outcome of pregnancy in nulliparous African American women 16-35 years old. Easting blood samples were collected from the women during the first, second and third trimesters of pregna ncy. At delivery, both maternal and cord samples were collected. Bioch emical variables such as, serum folate, vitamin B-12, ascorbic acid, v itamin E, ferritin, selected minerals as well as complete blood count (CBC) and red cell folate were analyzed in the blood samples. The conc entrations of hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, red blood cel ls and vitamin B-12 were below the reference non-pregnant ranges throu ghout gestation. Maternal concentrations of folate and vitamin E incre ased sequentially with increased gestational age. Serum ferritin, duri ng the third trimester, declined to 58% of the first trimester concent ration. Maternal levels of ferritin at delivery were one third of the values found in the infant (cord) sample. Cord levels of folate, ascor bic acid and vitamin B-12 were higher than the concentrations in the m aternal delivery samples. The data suggest that among this group of pr egnant women, major physiological changes, such as plasma volume expan sion which alters blood chemistry and maternal to fetal transfer of nu trients, were similar to the findings of other investigators. In this population however, the findings for serum and whole blood folate are contrary to those reported by other researchers, and the sequential in crease in the maternal concentration of the vitamin during pregnancy c ould be attributed to the use of vitamin supplements.