Study the Occurrence of Down Syndrome Risk Factors Folate and Homocysteine Level in Pregnant Women in Sylhet Division of Bangladesh

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy of chromosome 21 is one of the most common cause of autosomal chromosomal disorder that occurs in about 1 in 700 live born children, and main cause of mental retardation and intellectual disability. Several studies in different countries have shown that advanced maternal age (˃30 years) at conception, impaired folate status and/folate metabolism, impaired maternal recombination, maternal weight gain during pregnancy, low socioeconomic conditions, radiation exposure, use of contraceptive pills, and taking tobacco/cigarette are major maternal risk factors for giving birth child with DS. However, the occurrence of those factors in pregnant women at advanced age has not yet been investigated in Bangladesh. Hence, first time in Bangladesh this study aimed to determine the serum folate and homocysteine status at second/third trimester pregnant women at advanced age. We used the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique method to determine serum folate concentration. In this study, out of 70 pregnant women serum we found folate level low (<5 ng/ml) in 13 (18.57%) and intermediate (5-6.9 ng/ml) in 8 (11.43%). We also found low level of serum homocysteine than normal (5 ng/ml) in 70 serum samples. In addition, questionnaire data analysis indicates, low socioeconomic status, overweight during pregnancy, taking contraceptive pills and taking tobacco/smoking was higher percentage in folate-deficient pregnant women than normal serum folate level women. Remarkly, women (n=13) with low folate level, higher percentage of low socioeconomic status, overweight during pregnancy, taking contraceptive pills and taking tobacco/smoking did not have child with DS phenotypes. Together, our preliminary findings give an idea about the present condition of DS associated risk factors in Sylhet division, Bangladesh.