Relationship between dietary folate intakes, maternal plasma total homocysteine and B-vitamins during pregnancy and fetal growth in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Adequate folate status in pregnancy is important for satisfactory pregnancy outcome. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of the present study was to evaluate folate status in healthy pregnant women by assessing dietary folate intakes and measuring changes in folate-related biomarkers including plasma tHcy, serum vitamin B(12) (B(12)), and serum and RBC folate concentrations in each trimester and to examine their relation to fetal growth. METHODS: From 94 pregnant women, 3-day-dietary records were obtained and blood was collected for plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), serum B(12), and serum and red-blood cell (RBC) folate measurements. Infant anthropometric measurements were made immediately after birth. RESULTS: Average folate intake was less than 300 microg/day with a mean energy intake of about 1800 kcal. Mean serum and RBC folate concentrations declined significantly during gestation (p < 0.05). Mean serum B(12) also significantly decreased (p < 0.01), whereas plasma tHcy increased from 5.1 in the first trimester to 5.9 micromol/l in the third trimester (p < 0.01). Multiple regression analyses, after controlling for maternal age, parity and pre-pregnancy body-mass index indicated that a 1.0 micromol/l increase in plasma tHcy in the third trimester corresponded to a 151 g decrease in birth weight (p < 0.01). Neither B(12) nor folate concentrations in all three trimesters showed any significant associations with birthweight. Plasma pyridoxal-5'-phosphate concentrations were markedly low, and were consistent with low intake of vitamin B(6) in our population. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that higher plasma tHcy in the third trimester is a predictor of lower birth weight. In general, the dietary intake of B-vitamins and energy may be inadequate in our population, suggesting intervention is necessary.

Nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women in Japan: a comparison with non-pregnant/non-lactating controls in the National Nutrition Survey.

AIM: To describe the nutritional status in Japanese pregnant and lactating women at a national level, through a comparison with their non-pregnant/non-lactating controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pooled data from five years (1995-1999) of the National Nutrition Survey, Japan. Data on 330 pregnant and 388 lactating women, and their one-by-one matched non-pregnant/non-lactating controls, were used for analysis. RESULTS: There were fewer smokers, drinkers, and exercisers in pregnant women compared to their controls (P < 0.01). Both pregnant and lactating women showed significantly higher intakes of carbohydrates, calcium and vitamin B2. Mean iron intakes ranged 10.3-11.5 mg in the four groups, all being lower than the recommended intake level for non-pregnant/non-lactating women (12mg/day). Pregnant women consumed more fruits, milk and milk products, and less alcohol beverages and fish/shellfish compared to controls. Lactating women consumed more grain, vegetables, milk and milk products, and less alcohol beverages. There were 22.9% anemic subjects (Hb < 11 g/dL) in pregnant women, and 11.1% anemic subjects (Hb < 12g/dL) in lactating women and 15.7% in non-pregnant/non-lactating women. None of the pregnant subjects was severely anemic (Hb < 8 g/dL). No significant differences were observed in iron intakes between anemic and non-anemic women in each group. CONCLUSION: Pregnant and lactating women in Japan were aware of adopting healthy behaviors, such as smoking less, drinking less, and taking more milk or milk products compared to controls. Prevalence of mild anemia in pregnant women may have been partly due to plasma volume expansion in pregnancy.

Preparation and properties of alginate lyase modified with poly(ethylene glycol).

Modification of the enzyme alginate lyase (AL) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was attempted for the degradation and removal of alginate biofilms in infectious diseases. The modification of AL with PEG was attempted with three kinds of N-succinimidyl succinate PEG (SS-PEG), which differed in molecular weight (i.e., 2000, 5000 and 12,000 Da). The conjugation of PEG to free amino groups on AL was confirmed by gel permeation chromatography. Quantification of residual free amino groups revealed that PEG modification progressed further with a higher pH and a larger molar ratio of SS-PEG to AL. The reproducibility of the reaction was fairly good. The enzyme activity decreased with increasing PEG modification but the immunoreactivity toward anti-AL antibodies, as evaluated by an ELISA method, was much more remarkably reduced. The immunoreactivity was more reduced by the conjugated PEG with the larger molecular weight. In the reaction with PEG of molecular weight 12,000 Da, we obtained PEG-modified AL retaining approximately 40% enzyme activity but only 0.5% of the immunoreactivity of native AL.