Biotin Status Assessed Longitudinally in Pregnant Women1–4

Abstract

This study assessed biotin nutritional status longitudinally during pregnancy as judged by urinary excretion of biotin and biotin metabolites and by serum concentration of biotin. 3-Hydroxyisovaleric acid excretion was also assessed because increased excretion of that acid reflects decreased tissue activity of the biotin-dependent enzyme, methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase. Thirteen women provided untimed urine samples during both early and late pregnancy. Twelve nonpregnant women served as controls. Biotin and metabolites were determined by a combined HPLC/avidin-binding assay. 3-Hydroxyisovaleric acid was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometry. Significance of changes from early to late pregnancy was tested by paired t test; to compare nonpregnant controls with early and late pregnancy, ANOVA was used. During early pregnancy, biotin excretion was not significantly different than controls; however, 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid excretion was significantly increased relative to controls (P < 0.0001) and was greater than the upper limit of normal in 9 of 13 women. From early to late pregnancy, biotin excretion decreased in 10 of 13 women (P < 0.01); by late pregnancy, biotin excretion was less than normal in six women. During late pregnancy, 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid remained significantly increased relative to controls (P < 0.0001). Serum concentrations of biotin were significantly greater than those of controls during early pregnancy (P< 0.0001) and decreased in each woman from early to late pregnancy (P < 0.0001). These data provide evidence that biotin status decreases during pregnancy.