| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION |
1 From Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Groningen University Hospital, Groningen, Netherlands (FVV-A, MRF, and FAM); the Locus for Homocysteine and Related Vitamins, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway (PIH and PMU); and the Clinical Chemical Laboratory, Medical Center Haaglanden, The Hague, Netherlands (FPvdD)
Background: Plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) decrease during pregnancy. This reduction has been investigated in relation to folate status, but no study has addressed the possible role of betaine and its precursor choline.
Objective: We investigated the courses of plasma choline and betaine during normal human pregnancy and their relations to plasma tHcy.
Design: Blood samples were obtained monthly; the initial samples were taken at gestational week (GW) 9, and the last samples were taken 
3 mo postpartum. The study population comprised 50 women of West African descent. Most of the subjects took folic acid irregularly.
Results: Plasma choline (geometric 
; 95% reference interval) increased continuously during pregnancy, from 6.6 (4.5, 9.7) µmol/L at GW 9 to 10.8 (7.4, 15.6) µmol/L at GW 36. Plasma betaine decreased in the first half of pregnancy, from 16.3 (8.6, 30.8) µmol/L at GW 9 to 10.3 (6.6, 16.2) µmol/L at GW 20 and remained constant thereafter. We confirmed a reduction in plasma tHcy, and the lowest concentration was found in the second trimester. From GW 16 onward, an inverse relation between plasma tHcy and betaine was observed. Multiple regression analysis showed that plasma betaine was a strong predictor of plasma tHcy from GW 20 onward.
Conclusions: The steady increase in choline throughout gestation may ensure choline availability for placental transfer with subsequent use by the growing fetus. Betaine becomes a strong predictor of tHcy during the course of pregnancy. Both of these findings emphasize the importance of choline and betaine status during normal human pregnancy.
Key Words: Homocysteine • folate • choline • betaine • pregnancy
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. C. Boxmeer, R. P.M. Steegers-Theunissen, J. Lindemans, M. F. Wildhagen, E. Martini, E. A.P. Steegers, and N. S. Macklon Homocysteine metabolism in the pre-ovulatory follicle during ovarian stimulation Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2008; 23(11): 2570 - 2576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Signore, P. M. Ueland, J. Troendle, and J. L Mills Choline concentrations in human maternal and cord blood and intelligence at 5 y of age Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2008; 87(4): 896 - 902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Wallace, M. P Bonham, J. Strain, E. M Duffy, P. J Robson, M. Ward, H. McNulty, P. W Davidson, G. J Myers, C. F Shamlaye, et al. Homocysteine concentration, related B vitamins, and betaine in pregnant women recruited to the Seychelles Child Development Study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2008; 87(2): 391 - 397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. W. Friesen, E. M. Novak, D. Hasman, and S. M. Innis Relationship of Dimethylglycine, Choline, and Betaine with Oxoproline in Plasma of Pregnant Women and Their Newborn Infants J. Nutr., December 1, 2007; 137(12): 2641 - 2646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Michel, Z. Yuan, S. Ramsubir, and M. Bakovic Choline Transport for Phospholipid Synthesis. Experimental Biology and Medicine, May 1, 2006; 231(5): 490 - 504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
