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First-trimester serum folate levels and subsequent risk of abortion and preterm birth among Japanese women with singleton pregnancies

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To determine whether a low serum folate level during the first trimester predicts subsequent late abortion, preterm birth, or fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Study design

A prospective cohort study involving 5,075 women whose serum folate levels were measured during the first trimester. The participants were informed of their serum folate levels.

Results

The pregnancy duration, birthweight, rate of late abortion/preterm birth, and the rate of FGR did not differ significantly among the four groups classified according to folate status. The mean serum folate levels did not differ among quartiles classified according to the gestational week at the time of delivery. Nineteen of the 20 women with folate deficiency gave birth at term to infants with a birthweight of 3.132 ± 321 g; only one infant had FGR.

Conclusion

Low serum folate levels during the first trimester were not associated with the risk of late abortion, preterm birth, or FGR.

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Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita-ku N14 W6, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan

    Takashi Yamada, Mamoru Morikawa, Takahiro Yamada, Kazutoshi Cho & Hisanori Minakami

  2. Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

    Reiko Kishi

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asahikawa Medical University Graduate School of Medicine, Asahikawa, Japan

    Kazuo Sengoku

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan

    Toshiaki Endo & Tsuyoshi Saito

Authors
  1. Takashi Yamada
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  2. Mamoru Morikawa
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  3. Takahiro Yamada
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  4. Reiko Kishi
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  5. Kazuo Sengoku
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  6. Toshiaki Endo
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  7. Tsuyoshi Saito
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  8. Kazutoshi Cho
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  9. Hisanori Minakami
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Correspondence to Takashi Yamada.

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Yamada, T., Morikawa, M., Yamada, T. et al. First-trimester serum folate levels and subsequent risk of abortion and preterm birth among Japanese women with singleton pregnancies. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 9–14 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2501-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2501-5

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