Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Early Online:1–6, 2013 Copyright C  Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. ISSN: 0888-0018 print / 1521-0669 online DOI: 10.3109/08880018.2013.829894 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Serum Vitamin B12 and Folate Concentrations and the Effect of the Mediterranean Diet on Vulnerable Populations Yasemin Is ¸ık Balcı, MD, 1 Ahmet Ergin, MD, PhD, MPH, 2,4 Aysun Karabulut, MD, 3 Aziz Polat, MD, 1 Mustafa Do ˘ gan, MD, 4 and Kazım K ¨ uc ¸¨ uktas ¸cı, MD 1 1 Department of Pediatric Hematology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey; 2 Department of Public Health, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey; 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey; 4 Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey Low vitamin B12 and folate levels in expectant mothers may lead to low stores in babies. The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in pregnant women and neonates, and to assess the effect of maternal vitamin status on babies’ vitamin levels in the Aegean region of Turkey, where the Mediterranean diet (mainly fresh fruits and vegetables) is adopted. We studied 72 pregnant women and their singleton-term babies. Venous blood sam- ples of expectant mothers were collected 1 h before delivery and cord blood of babies were ob- tained at birth. The mean vitamin B12 in maternal and cord blood serum was 163.1 ± 72.0 pg/mL and 146.2 ± 102.5 pg/mL, and the mean folate, 9.8 ± 4.8 ng/mL and 15.8 ± 3.8 ng/mL, respectively. There were statistically significant correlation between maternal and cord blood serum vitamin B12 (r = 0.61, P = .04) and folate levels (r = 0.65, P < .001). 70.8% of the mothers and 83.9% of the babies were vitamin B12 deficient (<200 pg/mL). Neither group showed folate deficiency. The mean level of vitamin B12 in mothers significantly varied by the type of diet (241.6 (72.1) pg/mL versus 155.9 (68.2) pg/mL; P = .012). Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnant women and neonates may be a public health problem in our community. The Mediterranean diet in these vulnerable groups may be an aggravating factor for vitamin B12 deficiency. Prenatal screening of all expec- tant mothers, prenatal supplementation of vitamin B12, and an increase in animal-source food intake may improve expectant mother’s vitamin B12 level. Keywords cord blood, folate, Mediterranean diet, pregnancy, vitamin B12 INTRODUCTION Pregnancy is a period of rapid growth and cell diferentiation that requires a high rate of DNA synthesis for both mother and fetus [1]. his high rate of DNA synthesis is asso- ciated with a great need of vitamin B12 and folate. he embryo and fetus vitamin status depends on the maternal vitamin status and the maternal–fetal transfer of vitamins [2]. Received 24 May 2013; accepted 25 July 2013. Address correspondence to Ahmet Ergin, Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Kınıklı, Denizli 20020, Turkey. E-mail: aergin@pamukkale.edu.tr  Pediatr Hematol Oncol Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Pamukkale Univ. on 10/03/13 For personal use only.