Maternal serum folate levels during early to midpregnancy have a U-shaped association with congenital heart disease (CHD) risk in offspring, with both low and high levels increasing risk. Vitamin B12 deficiency and elevated homocysteine levels exacerbate this risk. A case-control study with 129 CHD cases and 516 controls in China found that low folate levels had an odds ratio of 3.09 for CHD risk, while high levels had an odds ratio of 1.81. Folate deficiency and elevated levels further increased risk. Homocysteine may mediate the relationship between folate and CHD risk. The study’s limitations include single time point measurements and lack of dietary intake data.
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Folate Levels in Pregnancy and Congenital Heart Disease Risk
