Evaluating the Hematological Profile of Pregnant Women and the Role of Folic Acid Supplementation in the Third Trimester: Role of Folic Acid Supplementation in the Third Trimester

Kainaat  Zafar; Amina  Shahid; Imran  Qadeer

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v6i07.910

Authors

Kainaat Zafar Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Amina Shahid Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
Imran Qadeer Sundas Foundation, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v6i07.910

Keywords:

Hematological profile, folic acid, Third trimester

Abstract

Folic acid, the significant vitamin used as supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy, if not provided in adequate amounts, can lead to chronic diseases. Neural tube development requires folic acid during gastrulation, and its deficiency may lead to the transformation of normal mucosa into a neoplastic condition. Objectives: To evaluate the pregnant woman's complete blood count (CBC) during the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Twenty-four (n=24) females were selected for the study during their third trimester of pregnancy to assess their haematological profiles by taking folic acid as a supplement. A 3-cc blood sample from the median cubital vein was taken from these females, immediately transferred to yellow-capped vacutainers and stored in ice bags. The serum was separated by centrifugation at 1000-2000 rpm for 2 minutes. The supernatant was separated as serum and transferred into vials for diagnostic tests. Results: The study suggested that folic acid significantly affects the woman's Complete Blood Count (CBC) profile. In short, folic acid raises the values of CBC during the third trimester. Conclusions: Folic acid improves haematological parameters during pregnancy.

References

Brown ED, Obeng-Gyasi B, Hall JE, Shekhar S. The Thyroid Hormone Axis and Female Reproduction. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023 Jun; 24(12): 9815. doi: 10.3390/ijms24129815. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24129815

Lima RP, Do Nascimento RA, Luna RC, Persuhn DC, da Silva AS, da Conceição Rodrigues Gonçalves M, et al. Effect of a diet containing folate and hazelnut oil capsule on the methylation level of the ADRB3 gene, lipid profile and oxidative stress in overweight or obese women. Clinical Epigenetics. 2017 Dec; 9: 1-9. doi: 10.1186/s13148-017-0407-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13148-017-0407-6

Gustot T, Fernandez J, Garcia E, Morando F, Caraceni P, Alessandria C, et al. Clinical course of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure syndrome and effects on prognosis. Hepatology. 2015 Jul; 62(1): 243-52. doi: 10.1002/hep.27849. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.27849

Chitayat D, Matsui D, Amitai Y, Kennedy D, Vohra S, Rieder M, et al. Folic acid supplementation for pregnant women and those planning pregnancy: 2015 update. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2016 Feb; 56(2): 170-5. doi: 10.1002/jcph.616. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jcph.616

Jafari-Shobeiri M, Jangi M, Tabrizi AD, Sayyah-Melli M, Mostafa-Gharabaghi P, Ouladsahebmadarek E, et al. Diagnostic value of novel biomarker human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in detecting endometrial cancer: Surgery. 2016; 12:13. doi: 10.15296/ijwhr.2016.07. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15296/ijwhr.2016.07

Kim YI. Folate and carcinogenesis: evidence, mechanisms, and implications. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. 1999 Feb; 10(2): 66-88. doi: 10.1016/S0955-2863(98)00074-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0955-2863(98)00074-6

Kremenchuzky S, Hoffbrand AV. Folate deficiency in polycythaemia rubra vera. British Journal of Haematology. 1965 Sep; 11(5): 600-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1965.tb00105.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2141.1965.tb00105.x

McCarthy CF, Fraser ID, Read AE. Plasma lactate dehydrogenase in megaloblastic anaemia. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 1966 Jan; 19(1): 51-4. doi: 10.1136/jcp.19.1.51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.19.1.51

Koury MJ and Horne DW. Apoptosis mediates and thymidine prevents erythroblast destruction in folate deficiency anemia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 1994 Apr; 91(9): 4067-71. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.9.4067. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.91.9.4067

Bekdash RA. Early life nutrition and mental health: the role of DNA methylation. Nutrients. 2021 Sep; 13(9): 3111. doi: 10.3390/nu13093111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093111

Mortensen JH, Øyen N, Fomina T, Melbye M, Tretli S, Vollset SE, et al. Supplemental folic acid in pregnancy and maternal cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiology. 2015 Dec; 39(6): 805-11. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2015.10.009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2015.10.009

Dam DH, Zhao L, Jelsma SA, Zhao Y, Paller AS. Folic acid functionalized hollow nanoparticles for selective photodynamic therapy of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Materials Chemistry Frontiers. 2019; 3(6): 1113-22. doi:Sim JJ, Lac PT, Liu IL, Meguerditchian SO, Kumar VA, Kujubu DA, et al. Vitamin D deficiency and anemia: a cross-sectional study. Annals of Hematology. 2010 May; 89:447-52. doi: 10.1007/s00277-009-0850-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C9QM00144A

Naz R and Ahmad B. Maternal Hemoglobin Value and Other Risking Factors during Pregnancy in Selected Areas of Pakistan 2016-2017. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences. 2017; 7(11): 79-87.

Watts DH, Krohn MA, Hillier SL, Eschenbach DA. Randomized trial of antibiotics in addition to tocolytic therapy to treat preterm labor. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1994 Jan; 1:220-7. doi: 10.1155/S106474499400013X. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/S106474499400013X

Zerbo O, Traglia M, Yoshida C, Heuer LS, Ashwood P, Delorenze GN, et al. Maternal mid-pregnancy C-reactive protein and risk of autism spectrum disorders: the early markers for autism study. Translational Psychiatry. 2016 Apr; 6(4): e783-. doi: 10.1038/tp.2016.46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2016.46

Belay E, Endrias A, Alem B, Endris K. Hematological responses to iron-folate supplementation and its determinants in pregnant women attending antenatal cares in Mekelle City, Ethiopia. PloS One. 2018 Oct; 13(10): e0204791. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204791

Zeeshan F, Bari A, Farhan S, Jabeen U, Rathore AW. Correlation between maternal and childhood VitB12, folic acid and ferritin levels. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2017 Jan; 33(1): 162. doi: 10.12669/pjms.331.10998. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.331.10998

Chang S, Zeng L, Brouwer ID, Kok FJ, Yan H. Effect of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy on child mental development in rural China. Pediatrics. 2013 Mar; 131(3): e755-63. doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3513. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-3513

Henri E, Valere MK, Lucas EE, Calixte PI, Ngalame CM, Grâce TT et al. Hematological Profile and Risk Factors of Anemia in Pregnant Women: A Cross Sectional Descriptive and Analytical Study in Douala Cameroon. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2019 Jul; 9(07): 968. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2019.97094. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/ojog.2019.97094

Rajendran S, Bobby Z, Habeebullah S, Elizabeth Jacob S. Differences in the response to iron supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, and hematological parameters in nonanemic and anemic pregnant women. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 2022 Feb; 35(3): 465-71. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2020.1722996. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2020.1722996

Bek KM, Nielsen FR, Qvist I, Rasmussen PE, Tobiassen M. C-reactive protein (CRP) and pregnancy. An early indicator of chorioamnionitis. A review. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 1990 Apr; 35(1): 29-33. doi: 10.1016/0028-2243(90)90139-R DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0028-2243(90)90139-R