Concentrações de vitaminas B6, folato e B12 e sua associação com lipídeos séricos na gestação: estudo prospectivo

Abstract

Studies in animal models and in adult populations show that low concentrations of vitamin B6, B12 and folate lead to high levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). To evaluate the associations between vitamins B6, B12, and folate serum concentrations with changes in triglycerides, TC, HDL and LDL concentrations throughout pregnancy. A prospective cohort study with 179 pregnant women (2040 years) was conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Participants were followed at 5th-13th (first trimester), 20th-26th (second trimester), and 30th-36th (third trimester) gestational weeks at a public health care center. Longitudinal linear mixed-effects models were employed to evaluate the association between plasma vitamin B6, B12, and folate concentrations with changes in blood lipids throughout pregnancy. Covariates were selected according to a Directed Acyclic Graph and analyses were adjusted for age, gestational age, first trimester body mass index, parity, smoking habit and dietary intakes of vitamins B6, B12, and folate. Women were 26.7±5.6 years of age, reported an energy intake of 2,458±904 kcal/day and 44% were overweight or obese according to first trimester BMI. In the adjusted analysis, plasma folate was directly associated with TC (β=0.244, 95%CI 0.034, 0.454), and LDL concentrations (β=0.193, 95%CI 0.028, 0.357). No association was found between concentrations of vitamins B6 or B12 and serum lipids. A direct association between folate with LDL and TC was observed during gestation. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms behind these associations.