Estudio sobre las concentraciones sèricas de vitamina B 12 y ácido fólico en el primer trimestrede embarazo en el Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén / Vitamin B 12 and folic acid levels in the first trimester of pregnancy in a hospital in Jaen (Spain)

Introducción. Durante el primer trimestre de embarazo es muy importante, para el correcto desarrollo del feto, unas concentraciones sèricas adecuados de vitamina B12 y ácido fólico. Un déficit de estas vitaminas produce, entre otros efectos, defectos del tubo neural del feto. Por tanto, durante el primer trimestre del embarazo, se suplementan porque aumentan las necesidades de estas vitaminas. Métodos. Según el Proceso Asistencial Integrado de embarazo, parto y puerperio del Servicio Andaluz de Salud se indica la quimioprofilaxis de 0,4 mg/día de ácido fólico hasta la semana 12 de gestación, para prevenir los defectos del tubo neural ¿Sería necesario aumentar los estudios para modificar esta dosis en la actualidad? ¿Influye la edad de la gestante en la dosis de ácido fólico a tomar? Por otro lado, el Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén determina, en la décima semana de gestación, el riesgo prenatal de síndrome de Down, entre otras cromosomopatías, mediante una analítica a todas las embarazadas de nuestro medio. ¿Conocemos cómo son las concentraciones sèricas de ácido fólico y vitamina B12 en las embarazadas recientes de nuestro medio? ¿Hay diferencias con respecto a la edad de las gestantes? Resultados. Según nuestros resultados, la mayoría de las gestantes de nuestro estudio tienen concentraciones sèricas de vitamina B12 y ácido fólico en sangre por debajo de lo recomendado, un 82 y un 70% respectivamente. Además no existen diferencias en cuanto a la edad de las gestantes (AU)

Introduction. Adequate levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy is very important for the proper development of the foetus. A deficiency of these vitamins causes neural tube defects in the foetus, as well as having other effects. Therefore, these vitamins are supplemented during the first trimester of pregnancy due to increasing needs. Methods. According to the Integrated Care Process of pregnancy and childbirth of Andalusian Health Service, chemoprophylaxis of 0.4 mg/day of folic acid is indicated until the 12th week of pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. Are more studies needed to determine if this dose should now be modified? Does age of the mother have an effect on the dose of folate to take?. Furthermore, in the tenth week of pregnancy Jaen Hospital tests for the prenatal risk of Down's syndrome, including chromosomal abnormalities, on all pregnant women in its catchment area. Do we know how the levels of folate and B12 in early pregnancy in our area? Are there differences regarding the age of the pregnant woman?. Results. According to our results the majority of pregnant women in our study have vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in the blood below that recommended, 82 and 70%, respectively. There are no differences in the ages of the pregnant women (AU)

Effect of iodine prophylaxis during pregnancy on neurocognitive development of children during the first two years of life.

CONTEXT: The association between thyroid function during pregnancy and the later mental and psychomotor development of the child is supported by numerous experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychological development of infants aged 3 to 18 months whose mothers had received 300 microg of potassium iodide during the first trimester of their pregnancy and compare with infants whose mothers had received no iodine supplements. DESIGN AND STUDY SUBJECTS: The study included 133 women who had received 300 microg of potassium iodine and 61 women who had received no iodine supplements. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The neuropsychological status of the children was evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, and measurements were made of TSH, free T(3), free T(4), and urinary iodine. RESULTS: Those children whose mothers had received an iodine supplement of 300 microg had a more favorable psychometric assessment than those of the other group of mothers. They had higher scores on the Psychomotor Development Index (P = 0.02) and the Behavior Rating Scale. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary iodine supplements not only have no harmful effect on the neurodevelopment of the children, they may even be beneficial. Given the possible presence of confounding variables not controlled for in this study, these findings should be considered as preliminary.