Status quo of serum levels of vitamin A and E in pregnancy

Objective To study and analyze serum levels of vitamin A, E in early, middle and late pregnancy, evaluate vitamin nutritional status in pregnancy and provide guidance for pregnant women about vitamin supplements during pregnancy. Methods A total of 28 023 serum samples from pregnant women during early, middle and late pregnancy from January 2013 to June 2014 in Beijing were collected, then high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to determine the concentration of serum vitamin A and E, and it was compared with serum concentrations of vitamin A, E in normal people. Results In early, middle and late pregnancy, the serum concentration of vitamin A was (0.33±0.08) mg/L, (0.37±0.09) mg/L, (0.33±0.15) mg/L, respectively. The total abnormal rate was 25.31% with main performance of lacking (24.98%). The rate of lacking in the first trimester of pregnancy (38.23%) was higher than late pregnancy (35.1%). The serum concentration of vitamin E was (9.10±2.47) mg/L, (14.24±3.66) mg/L, (15.80±5.01) mg/L, respectively. The total abnormal rate was 5.60% with excess (5.37%) as the main performance. Abnormality in early pregnancy was the lowest (1.26%), which was similar with rate of lacking (0.76%) and excess(0.5%). With the increase of gestational age, the abnormal rate of vitamin E also increased gradually, and it reached the highest in late pregnancy (15.32%), which was all characterized by excessive vitamin E. Conclusion The serum levels of vitamin A, E are different during pregnancy period, vitamin A is presence of lack, while vitamin E is presence of excess. Therefore attaching great importance to the monitoring of vitamin A, E and other micronutrients level in pregnancy, guiding rational correct prenatal vitamins supplement have important significance to the safety of maternal and fetal.