BACKGROUND: Growth retardation in utero leading to small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality and with lifelong consequences such as poor cognitive function and cardiovascular diseases. Maternal total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations have been linked to a wide range of adverse pregnancy outcomes and could possibly influence birth weight. OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review of and meta-analysis on the association of maternal tHcy and birth weight. DESIGN: A literature search of English, German, and French publications with the use of the PubMed database (January 1966-July 2010) found 78 abstracts. Search terms were as follows: homocysteine AND (birth weight OR small for gestational age OR intrauterine growth retardation). Studies were eligible if information on maternal tHcy and birth weight and the possible association between maternal tHcy and birth weight was available. Effect size estimates were converted to ORs as estimates of the RR of a woman to deliver SGA offspring when maternal tHcy exceeded the 90th percentile. RESULTS: The search yielded 19 studies for analysis, consisting of 21,326 individuals. Pooled analysis resulted in a crude OR of 1.25 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.44). When this estimate was expressed as a linear effect, it corresponded to a decrease in birth weight of 31 g (95% CI: -13, -51 g) for a 1-SD increase in maternal tHcy. CONCLUSIONS: Higher maternal tHcy concentrations are associated with a small increased risk for SGA offspring. The small estimated birth weight difference might be of little clinical relevance for the individual newborn; however, it could be of greater importance at a population level.
BACKGROUND:Growth retardation in utero leading to small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality and with lifelong consequences such as poor cognitive function and cardiovascular diseases. Maternal total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations have been linked to a wide range of adverse pregnancy outcomes and could possibly influence birth weight. OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review of and meta-analysis on the association of maternal tHcy and birth weight. DESIGN: A literature search of English, German, and French publications with the use of the PubMed database (January 1966-July 2010) found 78 abstracts. Search terms were as follows: homocysteine AND (birth weight OR small for gestational age OR intrauterine growth retardation). Studies were eligible if information on maternal tHcy and birth weight and the possible association between maternal tHcy and birth weight was available. Effect size estimates were converted to ORs as estimates of the RR of a woman to deliver SGA offspring when maternal tHcy exceeded the 90th percentile. RESULTS: The search yielded 19 studies for analysis, consisting of 21,326 individuals. Pooled analysis resulted in a crude OR of 1.25 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.44). When this estimate was expressed as a linear effect, it corresponded to a decrease in birth weight of 31 g (95% CI: -13, -51 g) for a 1-SD increase in maternal tHcy. CONCLUSIONS: Higher maternal tHcy concentrations are associated with a small increased risk for SGA offspring. The small estimated birth weight difference might be of little clinical relevance for the individual newborn; however, it could be of greater importance at a population level.
Authors: Krishnamachari Srinivasan; Tinku Thomas; Aruna Rose Mary Kapanee; Asha Ramthal; David C Bellinger; Ronald J Bosch; Anura V Kurpad; Christopher Duggan Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2016-06-29 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Tormod Rogne; Myrte J Tielemans; Mary Foong-Fong Chong; Chittaranjan S Yajnik; Ghattu V Krishnaveni; Lucilla Poston; Vincent W V Jaddoe; Eric A P Steegers; Suyog Joshi; Yap-Seng Chong; Keith M Godfrey; Fabian Yap; Raquel Yahyaoui; Tinku Thomas; Gry Hay; Marije Hogeveen; Ahmet Demir; Ponnusamy Saravanan; Eva Skovlund; Marit P Martinussen; Geir W Jacobsen; Oscar H Franco; Michael B Bracken; Kari R Risnes Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2017-02-01 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Tinu Mary Samuel; Christopher Duggan; Tinku Thomas; Ronald Bosch; Ramya Rajendran; Suvi M Virtanen; Krishnamachari Srinivasan; Anura V Kurpad Journal: Ann Nutr Metab Date: 2013-01-22 Impact factor: 3.374