Biochemical profile of African American women during three trimesters of pregnancy and at delivery.

The data presented are the results from a prospective observational study which was conducted to investigate the effects of nutrition and other related factors on the outcome of pregnancy in nulliparous African American women 16-35 years old. Fasting blood samples were collected from the women during the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. At delivery, both maternal and cord samples were collected. Biochemical variables such as, serum folate, vitamin B12, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, ferritin, selected minerals as well as complete blood count (CBC) and red cell folate were analyzed in the blood samples. The concentrations of hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, red blood cells and vitamin B12 were below the reference non-pregnant ranges throughout gestation. Maternal concentrations of folate and vitamin E increased sequentially with increased gestational age. Serum ferritin, during the third trimester, declined to 58% of the first trimester concentration. Maternal levels of ferritin at delivery were one third of the values found in the infant (cord) sample. Cord levels of folate, ascorbic acid and vitamin B12 were higher than the concentrations in the maternal delivery samples. The data suggest that among this group of pregnant women, major physiological changes, such as plasma volume expansion which alters blood chemistry and maternal to fetal transfer of nutrients, were similar to the findings of other investigators. In this population however, the findings for serum and whole blood folate are contrary to those reported by other researchers, and the sequential increase in the maternal concentration of the vitamin during pregnancy could be attributed to the use of vitamin supplements.

Relationships of serum illicit drug concentrations during pregnancy to maternal nutritional status.

Findings reported are for a subset of African American subjects, residing in the urban area of Washington, D. C., who participated in a Program Project designed to study nutrition, other factors, and the outcome of pregnancy. Fasting blood samples, drawn during each trimester of pregnancy and at delivery, were screened for concentrations of cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP) and marijuana. Since substance abusers are expected to consume inadequate diets, these samples were also analyzed for serum folate, vitamin B12, ferritin and ascorbic acid. Data for these biochemical variables were compared for subjects whose serum values for drugs were either above or below the drug screening threshold concentrations established by ADAMHA/NIDA. Pearson's correlations were used to determine relationships between pregnancy outcome variables and maternal serum drug concentrations. Blood samples drawn at delivery showed higher maternal: cord ratios (mean +/- SEM) for marijuana (3.3 +/- 2.2) and PCP (2.9 +/- 1.0) than for cocaine (1.0 +/- 0.2). The subjects whose serum values were above the ADAMHA/NIDA ranges for marijuana, PCP and cocaine had concentrations of folate and ferritin that were significantly less than those of subjects with lower serum drug levels (P < or = 0.05). High maternal serum concentrations of illicit drugs were accompanied by a significant increase in leukocyte count (P < or = 0.05). The level of maternal cocaine during the third trimester was inversely correlated with birthweight (r = -0.29; n = 52; P = 0.038) and head circumference (r = -0.28; n = 52; P = 0.047).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)