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Association of maternal folate nutrition and serum C-reactive protein concentrations with gestational age at delivery

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 350–356 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 06 July 2011

Abstract

Background/objectives:

C-reactive protein (CRP) is the most extensively studied inflammatory risk marker, and elevated serum CRP concentrations in pregnant women are known to be associated with subsequent development of preeclampsia and preterm delivery. Researchers have suggested that folate intake may help to control the inflammation process. We examined whether folate nutrition modifies the relationship between serum CRP concentration and gestational age at delivery.

Subjects/methods:

Serum CRP concentrations were analyzed in 815 pregnant women between 12 and 28 weeks of gestation. Dietary intakes were assessed using a 24-h dietary recall. The serum folate and high-sensitivity CRP concentrations were analyzed by radioassay and latex agglutination tests, respectively.

Results:

Serum CRP concentration was negatively correlated (P<0.001) with gestational age at delivery. Serum folate concentration was negatively correlated (P<0.01) with serum CRP concentration, and total dietary folate intake was positively correlated (P<0.001) with serum folate concentration. Multiple regression analysis after adjustment for covariates revealed that maternal CRP concentrations were negatively associated with gestational age at delivery; these negative associations existed only when folate intake during pregnancy was below the Korean estimated average requirements (520 μg dietary folate equivalent per day), and serum folate concentrations were above the normal (6 ng/ml).

Conclusions:

We found that adequate maternal folate intake during pregnancy may have a beneficial role against shorter gestational age at delivery, which is associated with higher serum CRP concentrations in pregnant women.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health Project of the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

    H Kim, J-Y Hwang & N Chang

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea

    E-H Ha & H Park

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea

    M Ha

  4. Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea

    S-J Lee

  5. Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Y-C Hong

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Correspondence to N Chang.

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Contributors: NC designed the research; HK, EHH, HP, MH, SJL and YCH conducted the research; HK analyzed the data; HK, JYH and NC wrote the manuscript; and NC was primarily responsible for the final content. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Kim, H., Hwang, JY., Ha, EH. et al. Association of maternal folate nutrition and serum C-reactive protein concentrations with gestational age at delivery. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 350–356 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.267

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