Nutritional Advice El Mondo
Objectives:
Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy is prevalent and has been associated with both lower birth weight (birth weight 2,500 g) and preterm birth (length of gestation 37 weeks). Nevertheless, current evidence is contradictory. Therefore, this meta-analysis (systematic review) has been conducted.
Is there an association between maternal serum or plasma vitamin B12 concentrations in pregnancy and offspring birth weight and length of gestation?
Study design:
This review article included 18 studies.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found a non-linear association between maternal vitamin B12 levels in pregnancy and birth weight.
The investigators found vitamin B12 deficiency (148 pmol/L) was significantly associated with a 15% higher risk for low birth weight in newborns [adjusted risk ratio = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.31].
The investigators found for each 1-standard-deviation increase in maternal levels of vitamin B12 a significant reduced risk of 11% for preterm birth [adjusted risk ratio = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.82 to 0.97].
The investigators found vitamin B12 deficiency (148 pmol/L) was non-significantly associated with a 21% higher risk for preterm birth [adjusted risk ratio = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.49].
The investigators concluded a maternal vitamin B12 deficiency (148 pmol/L) was associated with a higher risk for low birth weight in newborns. Therefore, this finding supports the need for randomized controlled trials of vitamin B12 supplementation in pregnancy.
Original title:
Associations of Maternal Vitamin B12 Concentration in Pregnancy With the Risks of Preterm Birth and Low Birth Weight: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data by Rogne T, Tielemans MJ, [...], Risnes KR.
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28108470
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find here more information/studies about vitamin B12 and pregnancy.