Vitamin B Status and Serum Homocysteine Levels in Infertile Women.
- Author:
Min Young LIM
1
;
Yoon Sung NAM
;
S Samuel KIM
;
Nam Soo CHANG
Author Information
1. Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
infertile women;
vitamin B;
folate;
homocysteine;
hyperhomocysteinemia
- MeSH:
Child;
Female;
Folic Acid;
Homocysteine*;
Humans;
Hyperhomocysteinemia;
Infertility;
Prevalence;
Riboflavin;
Vitamin B 6;
Vitamin B Complex;
Vitamins*
- From:The Korean Journal of Nutrition
2004;37(2):115-122
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Adequate vitamin B(2), vitamin B(6), folate and vitamin B(12) nutrition is known to be important for reproductive function in women of childbearing age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum vitamin B(2), vitamin B(6), folate and vitamin B(12) status and serum homocysteine levels in 115 women aged 33.2 +/- 4.0 years, who had been diagnosed with infertility, and 49 women aged 34.5 +/- 3.8 years having at least one born child. Total vitamin B(2) and vitamin B(6) intakes in infertile women were significantly lower than those in control. Serum vitamin B(2), vitamin B(6), folate and vitamin B(12) concentrations were significantly lower in infertile women than those in control and serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in infertile women than those in control. Thirteen percent in infertile women and zero percent in control were assessed as hyperhomocysteinemic and there was a significant difference in the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia between infertile women and control. 41% infertile women were assessed as folate deficiency. Serum folate concentrations was negatively correlated with serum homocysteine of the infertile women and control. Total vitamin B2 intakes was negatively correlated with serum homocysteine of the infertile women and control. Total vitamin B6, folate intakes were negatively correlated with homocysteine of infertile women only. In conclusion, infertile women are needed to intake more B vitamins intakes. Furthermore researches are needed to estimate adequate B vitamin supplementation in infertile women.
