Maternal periconceptional biochemical and hematological parameters, vitamin profiles and pregnancy outcome

Objectives : To evaluate periconceptional maternal biochemical and hematological parameters and vitamin profiles in relation to the risk of early pregnancy loss and birth weight. Design : Prospective longitudinal study. Setting : University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Maria and Elisabeth Hospitals, Tilburg, and Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Subjects : A cohort of 240 women recruited before pregnancy. Interventions : Blood samples were taken preconceptional and at 6 and 10 weeks amenorrhea in which the concentrations of hemoglobin, hematocrit, creatinin, uric acid, total protein, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, ferritin, and the concentrations of retinol, tocopherol, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxal-5′-phosphate, cobalamin and folate were analyzed. Main outcome measures : Risk of early pregnancy loss and birth weight. Results : The risk of early pregnancy loss increased with increasing prepregnancy weight, and when the periconceptional decline in hematocrit, creatinin and uric acid was less profound (slope: P