LEVELS OF VITAMIN B12 AT EARLY PREGNANCY AND THE RISK OF EXCESS WEIGHT AT BIRTH

Background and objectives: Vitamin B12 (VitB12) during pregnancy plays a key role in the development of the newborn. There is some controversy about the effect of VitB12 levels on newborn weight. Recently, some authors observed that VitB12 deficiency is related to excess birth weight (Sukumar et al., 2016). Objective: To describe the prevalence of VitB12 deficiency in the first trimester of gestation and its association with the weight of the newborn in the Mediterranean population. Methods: Prospective study in healthy pregnant women from week 12 of gestation until delivery. Mother data collected: clinical history, anthropometry, socioeconomic level, parity, ethnicity, age, smoking and alcoholic habits and food consumption.) At week 12, VitB12 was determined by electrochemiluminescence and was classified as optimal levels (>220pmol/L) and deficiency (marginal (150-220pmol /L) and low levels (4000g) or low birth weight (P90) or small-for-GA (