Short interpregnancy intervals, maternal folate levels, and infants born small for gestational age: a preliminary study in a Canadian supplement-using population.

ABSTRACT: Short interpregnancy intervals (SIPI) have been associated with increased risks for adverse neonatal outcomes including preterm delivery and infants small for gestational age (SGA). It has been suggested that mechanistically, adverse neonatal outcomes after SIPI arise due to insufficient recovery of depleted maternal folate levels prior to the second pregnancy. However, empirical data are lacking regarding physiological folate levels in pregnant women with SIPI and relationships between quantified physiological folate levels and outcomes like SGA. Therefore, we sought to test 2 hypotheses, specifically that compared with controls women with SIPI would: (i) have lower red blood cell folate (RBCF) levels and (ii) be more likely to have SGA infants (defined as <10th percentile). Using data co

SUBMITTER: Chen B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5756063 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature