Relation between serum folate status and blood mercury concentrations in pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relation between maternal serum folate status and blood mercury in pregnant Korean women.

Methods: The nutritional status of folate and the blood mercury concentration were measured in pregnant Korean women who participated in a multicenter prospective study from 2006 through 2011. We analyzed existing blood mercury data based on serum folate status at two gestational time points (mid and late pregnancy, n = 1105 and 841, respectively).

Results: Serum folate concentrations in pregnant women were negatively associated with blood mercury concentrations at mid and late pregnancy (P trend = 0.012 and 0.002, respectively). A general linear model developed after adjusting for covariates indicated a significant negative association between the two at mid and late pregnancy.

Conclusion: We found a negative association between serum folate and blood mercury concentrations in pregnant Korean women.