Mf. Mcmullin et al., Homocysteine and methylmalonic acid as indicators of folate and vitamin B-12 deficiency in pregnancy, CLIN LAB H, 23(3), 2001, pp. 161-165
Deficiency of folate during pregnancy is associated with megaloblastic anae
mia. Lower levels of folate and vitamin B-12 have been reported in mothers
whose offspring had neural tube defects compared to unaffected controls. In
creased methylmalonic acid levels are a sensitive indicator of mild vitamin
B-12 deficiency and elevated homocysteine levels denote vitamin B-12 or fo
late deficiency. We have investigated the relationship between serum concen
tration of total homocysteine, methylmalonic acid, vitamin B-12 and folate
in pregnancy. A significant inverse correlation was found between homocyste
ine and red cell folate and, to a lesser extent, serum folate. In addition,
a significant inverse correlation was found between methylmalonic acid and
vitamin B-12, No significant relationship was found between homocysteine a
nd vitamin B-12. The relationship between red cell folate and serum folate
and homocysteine may be useful for detecting borderline folate deficiency i
n pregnancy and indicate pregnancies at risk of neural tube defect. These s
ensitive assays are useful tools for the further investigation of folate vi
tamin B-12 and metabolism in normal and abnormal pregnancy.