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. 2025 Mar 21;44(2):295-302.
doi: 10.5937/jomb0-52621.

Comparative analysis of plasma folate, homocysteine and erythrocyte folate levels in pregnant women after folic acid administration during different pregnancies

Xinglin Jin  1 , Mei Meng  2 , Xi Wang  1
Affiliations

Comparative analysis of plasma folate, homocysteine and erythrocyte folate levels in pregnant women after folic acid administration during different pregnancies

Xinglin Jin et al. J Med Biochem. .

Abstract
in English, Serbian

Background: To examine and evaluate the alterations in plasma folate, homocysteine (HCY), and erythrocyte folate (FOA) concentrations among expectant mothers following folic acid supplementation in distinct pregnancies.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted with 416 pregnant women, divided into two groups: an observation group (n=210) who consistently took folic acid throughout pregnancy, and a control group (n=206) who only supplemented during early pregnancy. Key outcomes included plasma folate, HCY, and FOA levels, as well as pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes.

Results: Plasma folate levels were significantly higher in the observation group (10.42±2.96 ng/mL) compared to the control group (7.51±1.58 ng/mL, P<0.001). HCY levels were lower in the observation group (6.54±1.51 mmol/L) versus the control group (10.58±1.27 mmol/L, P<0.001). FOA levels were also higher in the observation group (486.42±105.29 ng/mL) compared to the control (430.20±75.12 ng/mL, P<0.001). The observation group had reduced rates of cesarean section (26.19% vs. 36.41%, P=0.025), anemia (3.81% vs. 8.74%, P=0.038), and hypertension during pregnancy (5.24% vs. 11.65%, P=0.018). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between plasma folate and FOA (r=0.116, P<0.05) and negative correlations between plasma folate and HCY (r=-0.411, P<0.05) and between FOA and HCY (r=-0.286, P<0.05). The observation group had significantly lower FBG and P2BG levels and a reduced incidence of gestational anemia and HIP compared to the control group (P<0.05). Cesarean sections were also less frequent in the observation group. Newborns in the observation group had significantly greater height, weight, head circumference, and chest circumference than those in the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Consistent folic acid supplementation throughout pregnancy significantly improves maternal folate status, decreases pregnancy-related complications, and enhances neonatal health outcomes. These findings underscore the need for continuous folic acid intake during pregnancy, which could inform clinical guidelines and public health policies to optimize maternal and neonatal health.

Uvod: Cilj je bio da se ispitaju i procene promene u koncentracijama folata u plazmi, homocisteina (HCI) i eritrocitnog folata (FOA) među trudnicama nakon dodavanja folne kiseline u različitim trudnoćama.

Metode: Retrospektivna analiza je sprovedena sa 416 trudnica, podeljenih u dve grupe: posmatračka grupa (n=210) koja je dosledno uzimala folnu kiselinu tokom trudnoće i kontrolna grupa (n=206) koja je uzimala suplemente samo tokom rane trudnoće. Ključni ishodi uključivali su nivoe folata u plazmi, HCI i FOA, kao i komplikacije trudnoće i neonatalne ishode.

Rezultati: Nivoi folata u plazmi bili su značajno viši u posmatranoj grupi (10,42±2,96 ng/mL) u poređenju sa kontrolnom grupom (7,51±1,58 ng/mL, P<0,001). Nivoi HCI su bili niži u posmatranoj grupi (6,54±1,51 mmol/L) u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu (10,58±1,27 mmol/L, P<0,001). Nivoi FOA su takođe bili viši u posmatranoj grupi (486,42±105,29 ng/mL) u poređenju sa kontrolnom (430,20±75,12 ng/mL, P<0,001). Grupa za posmatranje je imala smanjene stope carskog reza (26,19% naspram 36,41%, P=0,025), anemije (3,81% naspram 8,74%, P=0,038) i hipertenzije tokom trudnoće (5,24% naspram 11,65%, P= 0,018). Pirsonova korelaciona analiza je pokazala pozitivnu korelaciju između folata u plazmi i FOA (r=0,116, P<0,05) i negativnu korelaciju između folata u plazmi i HCI (r=-0,411, P<0,05) i između FOA i HCI (r=-0,286, P<0,05). Grupa za posmatranje imala je značajno niže nivoe FBG i P2BG i smanjenu incidencu gestacijske anemije i HIP u poređenju sa kontrolnom grupom (P<0,05). Carski rezovi su takođe bili ređi u posmatranoj grupi. Novorođenčad u posmatranoj grupi imala su značajno veću visinu, težinu, obim glave i grudnog koša od onih u kontrolnoj grupi (P<0,05).

Zaključak: Konzistentna suplementacija folne kiseline tokom trudnoće značajno poboljšava status folata kod majke, smanjuje komplikacije vezane za trudnoću i poboljšava zdravstvene ishode novorođenčeta. Ovi nalazi naglašavaju potrebu za kontinuiranim unosom folne kiseline tokom trudnoće, što bi moglo da posluži za kliničke smernice i politike javnog zdravlja za optimizaciju zdravlja majki i novorođenčadi.

Keywords: erythrocyte folate; folic acid; homocysteine; pregnant women.

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Conflict of interest statement

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in this work.Conflict of Interest: The authors stated that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Correlation analysis of plasma folic acid with HCY and FOA. (A) correlation between plasma folic acid and HCY; (B) correlation between plasma folic acid and FOA; correlation between C:HCY and FOA.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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