Prenatal one carbon metabolism-gene interactions, placenta trace element content and their effect on pregnancy outcomes

Identifier:  TDX:2565

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2565

Authors:  Colomina Muela, Jose Maria

Abstract:
One carbon metabolism and essential trace elements affect foetal development and pregnancy outcome. The effects of several highly prevalent one carbon metabolism polymorphisms (MTHFR c.665C>T, BHMT c.716G>A, SLC19A1 c.80G>A and MTRR c.66A>G) in pregnancy and their possible modulation by folate status, and which factors are associated with the placenta trace element concentrations (zinc, copper, selenium and iron), are unknown. These aspects of the aforementioned polymorphisms and trace elements were studied in 617 pregnancies of the Reus-Tarragona Birth Cohort and 218 placentas. With high erythrocyte folate status at ≤12 gestational weeks (GW) and with high plasma folate status from 15GW on, the homocysteine-enhancing effect of MTHFR c.665C>T was not observed. Lower plasma dimethylglycine in BHMT c.716 variant genotypes was found at mid-late pregnancy, and this was also true for early pregnancy if plasma folate status was high. MTRR c.66 variant homozygotes had higher plasma homocysteine concentration at early pregnancy, and after plasma folate status stratification this was not observed in the extreme tertiles. Placenta concentrations of zinc, copper and selenium were positively correlated, and negatively associated with birth weight. Smoking during pregnancy was associated with higher copper and selenium concentrations. Intake of these trace elements from food and/or supplements was not associated with their concentrations in placenta. Plasma cobalamin at ≤12GW and homocysteine at labour were negatively and positively, respectively, associated with placenta copper concentrations. MTHFR c.665 normal allele in the neonate and placenta copper concentration were positively associated with intrauterine growth restriction. These studied polymorphisms and their modulation by folate status, and the placenta trace elements, are associated with metabolic changes and pregnancy outcome.