Abstract

Objective: This study sought to elucidate umbilical cord boron levels. Moreover, the association of maternal and umbilical cord boron levels and fetal growth in pregnant population was also investigated. Materials and methods: This is a crosssectional study performed in a university hospital. Patients who vaginally delivered a live term infant after 37 weeks were included in the study (n = 30). All the participants received multiple-micronutrient supplementation beginning in the first trimester. Maternal blood samples were collected from antecubital vein. Cord blood was collected at birth, from the double clamped umbilical cord. Umbilical cord boron levels were analyzed in different birth weight centiles for gestational age. The correlation between maternal and fetal boron levels was also elucidated. Results: The mean age of the women was 28.3 ± 4.2 years. Mean (± SD) maternal and umbilical cord boron levels were 13.5 (± 3.2) μg/L and 21.7 (± 4.9) μg/L, respectively. Maternal and umbilical cord levels were correlated (r = 0.829). The birth weights were not correlated with maternal or umbilical cord boron levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: For pregnant women adequate amounts of dietary boron ingestion that assumes beneficial health effects on the mother and fetus is still lacking. The umbilical cord boron levels depend on maternal boron levels. Higher levels of boron in umbilical cord than maternal serum might indicate that boron is essential for fetal growth or metabolism. Although a larger number of patients was required for optimum interpretation of statistical analysis, no correlation between birth weight and maternal/umbilical cord boron levels were found. However, babies born with very low boron concentrations might have an impact far beyond gestation on lifelong health and well-being.

Author Details

Authors

• Gamze S. Caglar¹
• Gaye O. Cakal²
• Mine Kiseli¹

Departments

• ¹ Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mevlana Bulvari, Ankara, and
• ² Ankara University Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Ankara, Turkey

Address

Gamze S. Caglar, MD
Ufuk University Faculty of Medicine
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Mevlana Bulvari, Balgat, 06520, Ankara, Turkey
Email: [email protected]

Citation