Relationship between serum folate status and blood lead concentrations in pregnant women: Mothers and Childrenˈs Environmental Health (MOCEH)

Abstract

Lead has toxic effects on the body, including on the nervous system and reproductive outcomes. It is possible that folate, which is involved in sulfur‐containing amino acid metabolism, participates in the lead detoxification process. We evaluated the relationship between maternal serum folate status and blood lead in pregnant Korean women. The nutritional status of folate and blood lead concentration was measured in pregnant Korean women who participated in a multicenter prospective study between 2006 and 2010. We analyzed existing blood mercury data based on serum folate status at two gestational time points (mid and late pregnancy; n=778 and 452, respectively). Serum folate concentrations in pregnant women were negatively associated with blood lead concentrations at mid pregnancy but not at late pregnancy (P trend 0.008 and 0.929, respectively). A general linear model developed after adjusting for age, prepregnancy body mass index, education status, gestational age at blood collection, and urinary cotinine concentrations indicated that there was a significant negative association between the two at mid pregnancy. We found a negative association between serum folate and blood lead concentrations in pregnant Korean women. These results warrant future studies to explore the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial role of folate status against blood lead concentrations in pregnant women.