SERUM VITAMIN B12 LEVELS IN PREGNANT WOMEN

SERUM vitamin B12 levels in pregnant women at term have been shown to be lower than nonpregnant women in the child bearing age (Heinrich, 1954; Bogeret al., 1956; and Lawrence and Klipstein, 1967). Furthermore, serum vitamin B12 levels fall progressively throughout pregnancy (Okuda et al., 1956; Luhby et al., 1961). It has been noted also that the serum vitamin B12 levels in cord blood are considerably higher than those of the maternal blood at term (Killander and Vahlquist, 1954; Baker et al., 1958, and Zachau-Christiansen et al., 1962). Experiments with rats have shown that severe vitamin B12 depletion in females is associated with reproductive abnormality and debilitated offspring. It has also been demonstrated that vitamin B12 significantly reduces the number of stillbirths in experimental animals. This aspect has been reviewed by Nesbitt and Chow (1958). The present study examines serum vitamin B12 levels throughout pregnancy and relates the initial visit level to the outcome of pregnancy.

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