Folic Acid Transport to the Human Fetus Is Decreased in Pregnancies with Chronic Alcohol Exposure

During pregnancy, the demand for folic acid increases since the fetus requires this nutrient for its rapid growth and cell proliferation. The placenta concentrates folic acid into the fetal circulation; as a result the fetal levels are 2 to 4 times higher than the maternal level. Animal and in vitro studies have suggested that alcohol may impair transport of folic acid across the placenta by decreasing expression of transport proteins. We aim to determine if folate transfer to the fetus is altered in human pregnancies with chronic alcohol consumption.Serum folate was measured in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood at the time of delivery in pregnancies with chronic and heavy alcohol exposure (n = 23) and in non-drinking controls (n = 24). In the alcohol-exposed pairs, the fetal:maternal serum folate ratio was ≤ 1.0 in over half (n = 14), whereas all but one of the controls were >1.0. Mean folate in cord samples was lower in the alcohol-exposed group than in the controls (33.15 ± 19.89 vs 45.91 ± 20.73, p = 0.04).Our results demonstrate that chronic and heavy alcohol use in pregnancy impairs folate transport to the fetus. Altered folate concentrations within the placenta and in the fetus may in part contribute to the deficits observed in the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

The erythrocyte cytoskeleton protein 4.2 is not demonstrable in several mammalian species

Erythrocyte membrane proteins from 44 representative mammals were studied. Protein 4.2 was not detected in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) (N = 14), Southern Brazilian swamp large rats (Myocastor coypus) (N = 2), cutias (Dasyprocta sp) (N = 4), and horses (Equus caballus) (N = 13). These animals also presented high ankyrin concentrations except for the horse which did not exhibit a sharp band, although minor components located between proteins 2 and 3 could account for the ankyrin family. The rodents studied did present band 6, which was not detectable in other common rodents such as white rats (Rattus norvegicus) (N = 9) and mice (Mus musculus) (N = 12). Since the absence of protein 4.2 does not disrupt the cytoskeleton membrane, we suggest that it is not an essential protein. Its absence may be compensated physiologically by the higher ankyrin concentration observed

Relationship between total homocysteine and folate levels in pregnant women and their newborn babies according to maternal serum levels of vitamin B-12

Objective To determine total homocysteine and folate levels in pregnant women according to vitamin B-12 (B-12) levels, and to analyse the impact of maternal B-12 levels on the nutritional status of their newborn babies.Design Cross sectional observational study.Setting Two public hospitals in Jundiai City, São Paulo, Brazil.Sample Sixty-nine pregnant women and their respective newborn babies at the time of delivery.Methods Maternal blood was collected up to 8 hours before delivery. Umbilical cord blood was collected after the expulsion of the placenta. Total homocysteine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography, folate by ion capture methodology and B-12 by enzyme immunoassay.Main outcome measures Relationship between low maternal vitamin B-12 levels and total homocysteine and folate levels in pregnant women and newborn babies.Results There was a significant correlation between maternal and neonatal B-12 levels, but not between maternal B-12 and neonatal red blood cell (RBC) folate. There was a weak correlation between maternal B-12 levels and neonatal serum folate. However, there were significant correlations between maternal and neonatal total homocysteine levels and between neonatal B-12 and neonatal total homocysteine levels. Mean (+/-SD) umbilical cord blood B-12, RBC folate, serum folate and total homocysteine levels were 1.7 +/- 0.8, 1.8 +/- 0.8, 2.2 +/- 0.8 and 0.9 +/- 0.3 times higher than maternal B-12, RBC folate, serum folate and total homocysteine values, respectively.Conclusions These data suggest that pregnant women with low B-12 levels are unable to provide the necessary amount of B-12 to their fetuses. the clinical consequences could be the presence of neurological abnormalities as well as the lack of utilisation of homocysteine for methionine transformation.Univ São Paulo, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Dept Clin Chem & Toxicol, BR-05508900 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc