Maternal low level lead and pregnancy outcomes

We examined the relationship between the concentrations of blood lead and pregnancy outcomes in a subset of 349 African American women who enrolled in the program project, "Nutrition, Other Factors, and the Outcome of Pregnancy." Vitamin-mineral supplement users had significantly higher serum levels of ascorbic acid and vitamin E. Also, in supplement users, there were significantly lower mean concentrations of maternal blood lead. Inverse correlations were found between maternal levels of lead and the antioxidant vitamins, vitamin E and ascorbic acid. In addition, significant Pearson's correlations were observed between maternal blood lead levels and the following variables: positive correlations with calcium, phosphorus, mean corpuscular volume; inverse correlations with gestational age, Ponderal Index, infant orientation, and hematologic values. In the total subset, the three trimester sample means for maternal blood lead concentrations were not significantly different for mothers of infants who weighed less than 2500 g (low birth weight) and those who were delivered infants who weighed 2500 g or more. Clinically, nutrition may play a role in the reduction of potentially adverse effects from lead during pregnancy, i.e. protection of the fetus against lead toxicity and/or free radical damage through the antioxidant actions of vitamin E and ascorbic acid. Even when maternal blood lead levels are within the so-called "safe" range, maternal/use of a vitamin supplement supplying vitamin E and ascorbic acid during pregnancy may offer protection.