Maternal and fetal serum and red blood cell folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in pregnancies affected by neural tube defects.

In the present study maternal and fetal serum and red cell folate and vitamin B12 concentrations were determined in NTD affected and in control pregnancies. Fetal serum folate (p < 0.001) and red cell folate (p < 0.001) concentrations were significantly higher than maternal levels in the cases as well as in the controls. Maternal and fetal vitamin B12 concentrations did not differ significantly in both groups. There were also no significant differences in maternal and fetal vitamin concentrations in the peripheral blood between cases and controls. However, when a subgroup analysis was performed according to the type of NTD we found significant differences in fetal vitamin B12 status between anencephaly and spina bifida cases as well as between anencephaly cases and the controls.