Evaluating the Relationship between Maternal HIV and Vitamin B12 Status at Delivery in Uganda
Restricted (Penn State Only)
- Author:
- Ostrowski, Casey
- Area of Honors:
- Nutritional Sciences
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Alison D Gernand, Thesis Supervisor
Alison D Gernand, Thesis Honors Advisor
Maria Rita Castro, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- Pregnancy
Nutrition
HIV
Vitamin B12
B12
Nutritional Status
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
B12 Deficiency - Abstract:
- There are over a million pregnancies each year that are complicated by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as various nutritional deficiencies. Vitamin B12 is crucial for growth and development, and B12 deficiencies during pregnancy can have lasting effects on both the mother and child. Limited research has shown that there may also be a relationship between B12 status and HIV disease progression. This thesis aimed to examine the relationship between HIV infection and B12 status in mothers at delivery as well as in their umbilical cord blood. We conducted a sub-study (n=196 mother/cord dyads) on B12 micronutrient status from a larger parent study about placentas, antibodies, and child health outcomes. We measured B12 concentrations in pairs of maternal blood from delivery and cord blood samples. Mean maternal age was 28.0 ± 5.50 years and mean gestational age at birth was 39.4 ± 2.26 weeks. Mean birth weight was 3.11 ± 0.433 kg, and mean placental weight was 0.447 ± 0.106 kg. All maternal participants living with HIV reported taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). Median (IQR) maternal B12 concentrations was 189 (150-261 pg/mL) and the prevalence of maternal B12 deficiency was 55.1%. We found that B12 was 110.8 pg/mL (95% CI: 29.8-192.8) higher in cord blood from mothers living with HIV vs. those not living with HIV. We also found the B12 cord:maternal ratio was 0.35 (95% CI: 0.05-0.65). Maternal HIV status was not related to maternal B12 status. In this study, maternal B12 status was similar for women living with and without HIV, but cord blood B12 was higher in those with HIV, indicating higher placental transfer of B12 to the fetus. Future studies should further examine the effects of ART on B12 concentrations and transfer.