Associations of maternal folate status with serum C‐reactive protein level in pregnant women

Folate deficiency and elevated serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentration in pregnant women is known to be related to adverse pregnancy outcomes, but relationship between serum folate and CRP levels not has been explored. In 480 pregnant women of 12‐28 weeks of gestation, the association between serum levels of folate and CRP was evaluated. Dietary intake data was collected by the semiquantitative food frequency method for usual intake over one year prior to pregnancy and 24‐hour recall method for the intake one day before blood sampling. Serum folate and CRP levels were analyzed by the radioimmunoassay and high sensitivity immuno‐turbidimetirc assay, respectively. Maternal serum folate at parturition was positively correlated with folate intake during pregnancy ( p <0.05). Maternal serum folate during pregnancy ( p <0.05) and at parturition ( p <0.01) was negatively correlated with serum CRP at parturition. Further studies are warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying the associations between serum folate and CRP levels, and also the implications of these results in relation to adverse pregnancy outcomes. This work was supported by the Ministry of Environment and the 2 nd stage of Brain Korea 21 project in 2008