Prevalence and factors associated with the consumption of folic acid and iron in pregnant women in the BRISA cohort / Prevalência e fatores associados ao uso de ácido fólico e ferro em gestantes da coorte BRISA

Abstract Objectives: to describe the prevalence and factors associated with the consumption of folic acid and iron among puerperal women in the city of São Luís, Maranhão. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 4,036 puerperal women through a standardized questionnaire. The dependent variables (outcomes) were: the consumption of folic acid during pregnancy, iron and folic acid before pregnancy. The independent variables: age; schooling; skin color; marital status; income; planned pregnancy; place and number of prenatal consultations. Statistical analyzes were performed on STATA 14.0. For the first two outcomes, Poisson model with a robust variance was used. And for the last one, logistic regression. Results: the prevalence of consuming folic acid and iron during pregnancy were, respec-tively, 77.27% and 84.98%. However, only 0.37% reported the consume of folic acid and iron before pregnancy. In the adjusted analysis, the variables associated with the consumption of folic acid during pregnancy were: schooling and income; the consume of iron during preg-nancy, age only; and for those who consumed folic acid before pregnancy, no variable was statistically significant. Conclusions: high percentage of puerperal women who consumed folic acid and iron supplements during pregnancy, however, the recommended consumption of folic acid before pregnancy was low and maternal, social and economic factors influence the consumption of these supplements.

Resumo Objetivos: descrever prevalência e fatores associados ao uso deácido fólico e ferro entre puérperas do município de São Luís, Maranhão. Métodos: estudo transversal com 4.036 puérperas através de questionário padronizado. As variáveis dependentes (desfechos) foram: uso durante a gestação de ácido fólico, ferro e ácido fólico antes da gestação. As variáveis independentes: idade; escolaridade; cor da pele; situação conjugal; renda; gravidez planejada; local e número de consultas do pré-natal. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas no STATA 14.0. Para os dois primeiros desfechos, utilizou-se modelo de Poisson com variância robusta. Para o último, regressão logística. Resultados: a prevalência do uso de ácido fólico e ferro durante a gestação foram, respectivamente, 77,27% e 84,98%. Entretanto, apenas 0,37% declararam uso antes da gestação. Na análise ajustada, as variáveis associadas com uso de ácido fólico durante a gestação foram: escolaridadee renda; parausode ferro durante a gestação, apenas a idade; e para as que fizeram uso de ácido fólico antes da gestação, nenhuma variável mostrou-se estatisticamente significativa. Conclusões: alto percentual de puérperas fez uso de suplementos de ácido fólico e ferro-durante a gestação, porém o uso recomendado de ácido fólico antes da gestação mostrou-se baixo e que fatores maternos, sociais e econômicos influenciam no consumo destes suple-mentos.

Albendazole-praziquantel interaction in healthy volunteers: kinetic disposition, metabolism and enantioselectivity.

AIM: This study investigated the kinetic disposition, metabolism and enantioselectivity of albendazole (ABZ) and praziquantel (PZQ) administered alone and in combination to healthy volunteers. METHODS: A randomized crossover study was carried out in three phases (n= 9), in which some volunteers started in phase 1 (400 mg ABZ), others in phase 2 (1500 mg PZQ), and the remaining volunteers in phase 3 (400 mg ABZ + 1500 mg PZQ). Serial blood samples were collected from 0-48 h after drug administration. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a monocompartmental model with lag time and were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test; P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The administration of PZQ increased the plasma concentrations of (+)-ASOX (albendazole sulphoxide) by 264% (AUC 0.99 vs. 2.59 µg ml(-1) h), (-)-ASOX by 358% (0.14 vs. 0.50 µg ml(-1) h) and albendazole sulfone (ASON) by 187% (0.17 vs. 0.32 µg ml(-1) h). The administration of ABZ did not change the kinetic disposition of (+)-(S)-PZQ (-)-(R)-4-OHPZQ or (+)-(S)-4-OHPZQ, but increased the plasma concentration of (-)-(R)-PZQ by 64.77% (AUC 0.52 vs. 0.86 µg ml(-1) h). CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacokinetic interaction between ABZ and PZQ in healthy volunteers was demonstrated by the observation of increased plasma concentrations of ASON, both ASOX enantiomers and (-)-(R)-PZQ. Clinically, the combination of ABZ and PZQ may improve the therapeutic efficacy as a consequence of higher concentration of both active drugs. On the other hand, the magnitude of this elevation may represent an increased risk of side effects, requiring, certainly, reduction of the dosage. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this combination.

Enantioselective analysis of praziquantel and trans-4-hydroxypraziquantel in human plasma by chiral LC-MS/MS: Application to pharmacokinetics.

A simple enantioselective method for the determination of praziquantel (PZQ) and trans-4-hydroxypraziquantel (4-OHPZQ) in human plasma was developed and validated by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The plasma samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction using a mixture of methyl-tert-butylether/dichloromethane (2:1, v/v) as extraction solvent. The direct resolution of PZQ and 4-OHPZQ enantiomers was performed on a Chiralpak AD column using hexane-isopropanol (75:25, v/v) as the mobile phase. Diazepam was used as internal standard. The method described here is simple and reproducible. The quantitation limit of 1.25ng/ml for each PZQ enantiomer and of 12.5ng/ml for each 4-OHPZQ enantiomer permits the use of the method in studies investigating the kinetic disposition of a single dose of 1.5g racemic PZQ. Enantioselectivity in the kinetic disposition of PZQ and 4-OHPZQ was observed in the clinical study, with the demonstration of a higher proportion of the (+)-(S)-PZQ and (-)-(R)-4-OHPZQ enantiomers in plasma.