Smithells R W, Sheppard S, Schorah C J
Arch Dis Child. 1976 Dec;51(12):944-50. doi: 10.1136/adc.51.12.944.
Serum folate, red cell folate, white blood cell vitamin C, riboflavin saturation index, and serum vitamin A were determined during the first trimester of pregnancy in over 900 cases. For each of these there was a social classes I + II showed the highest levels which differed significantly from other classes, except for serum folate. In 6 mothers who gave birth to infants with neural tube defects, first trimester serum folate, red cell folate, white blood cell vitamin C, and riboflavin values were lower than in controls. In spite of small numbers the differences were significant for red cell folate (P less than 0-001) and white blood cell vitamin C (P less than 0-05). These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that nutritional deficiencies are significant in the causation of congenital defects of the neural tube in man.
对900多例孕妇在妊娠早期测定了血清叶酸、红细胞叶酸、白细胞维生素C、核黄素饱和指数和血清维生素A。对于上述各项指标，除血清叶酸外，社会阶层Ⅰ+Ⅱ的水平最高，且与其他阶层有显著差异。在6名生育神经管缺陷婴儿的母亲中，妊娠早期血清叶酸、红细胞叶酸、白细胞维生素C和核黄素值低于对照组。尽管样本数量较少，但红细胞叶酸（P＜0.001）和白细胞维生素C（P＜0.05）的差异具有统计学意义。这些发现与营养缺乏在人类神经管先天性缺陷病因中起重要作用的假说相符。
