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Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
03:19

Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

402

Association of Maternal Serum Homocysteine level with Maternal Birth Weight

S S Tithi1, K N Nahar, N Haque

  • 1Dr Shaila Sharmin Tithi, Medical Officer, 250 Bedded General Hospital, Jessore, Bangladesh.

Mymensingh Medical Journal : MMJ
|June 30, 2024
PubMed

Insights

High maternal homocysteine levels are linked to lower birth weights in newborns. This finding highlights a significant association between maternal serum homocysteine and infant birth weight, impacting infant growth and survival.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

  • Birth weight is a critical indicator of infant health and survival.
  • Low birth weight is associated with increased infant mortality and morbidity.
  • Previous research suggests a correlation between elevated maternal homocysteine and reduced offspring birth weight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal serum homocysteine levels and neonatal birth weight.
  • To determine if maternal homocysteine is a significant predictor of low birth weight.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted involving pregnant women in their third trimester (37-40 weeks).
  • Maternal serum homocysteine levels and neonatal birth weights were measured immediately after delivery.
  • Data collected included maternal demographics, clinical examination, and haematological investigations.

Main Results:

  • A significant negative correlation was observed between maternal serum homocysteine levels and neonatal birth weight (r = -0.419, p<0.05).
  • Maternal homocysteine and gestational age were significant factors in regression analysis, even after adjusting for maternal age, parity, BMI, and infant sex.
  • Increased maternal serum homocysteine was negatively associated with low birth weight babies.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated maternal serum homocysteine is significantly associated with lower birth weight in neonates.
  • Monitoring maternal homocysteine levels may be important for identifying pregnancies at risk for low birth weight.
  • This association underscores the importance of homocysteine in fetal growth and development.

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