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PregnancyNCT00340366

Influence of Genetics on Vitamin Metabolism in Pregnant Women

An observational study of Pregnancy and Birth Defects, run by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at 1 site in Ireland.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study will examine how the body metabolizes micronutrients, such vitamins, during pregnancy and how genetic make-up influences their metabolism. Vitamin B12 and folate levels in pregnancy have been linked to birth defects, such as neural tube defects, orofacial clefts, and congenital heart disease. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Pregnancy, Birth Defects
How many people
Not given
Where
1 siteIreland
Study dates
16 Dec 2003to 10 Dec 2007
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult
  • Eligible participants will be women of Irish origin (older than 18) presenting for prenatal care to the Coombe Women's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Non-Irish women (a small proportion of the population) will be excluded because the prevalence of genetic polymorphisms can vary greatly among different populations; we already have an estimate of the distribution of this genotype in the Irish women. Members of the only minority group native to Ireland, the Travelers, will not be excluded. While culturally distinct, the Travelers are genetically similar to the majority population. Women with multiple pregnancy (more than one fetus) and users of IV drugs will be excluded. Women will be asked for permission to obtain a cord blood sample from the infant at delivery. Women will be asked to assist with recruitment of their partners (father of the fetus), who will be included if they consent.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Ireland1 site
  • The Coombe Maternity Hospital

    Dublin

Other trials in Ireland

About this study

Official title: Investigation Into the Influence of Genetic Variation on Folate, Cobalamin and Related Metabolites

This study will examine how the body metabolizes micronutrients, such vitamins, during pregnancy and how genetic make-up influences their metabolism. Vitamin B12 and folate levels in pregnancy have been linked to birth defects, such as neural tube defects, orofacial clefts, and congenital heart disease. Other micronutrient levels may be related to other birth defects or pregnancy complications. This study will characterize the patterns of micronutrient status during pregnancy and compare it with genetic variants and biochemical parameters. Information about the relationship between genes and vitamin metabolism may help doctors advise women about their nutritional requirements during pregnancy to protect their health and the health of their babies.

This study is a collaboration between NIH and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Women of Irish origin 18 years of age or older who are receiving prenatal care at the Coombe Women's Hospital in Dublin may be enrolled. Fathers also may participate.

Read more

Upon entering the study, female participants complete a questionnaire relating to their food and vitamin intake, alcohol consumption, smoking behavior, and use of medications, and provide a blood sample. Additional blood samples are collected during routine clinic visits at about 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy, and again at delivery and from 6 weeks to 2 months after the baby's birth. Permission will be requested to obtain a blood sample from the umbilical cord at birth after it has been removed from the baby.

Fathers of the babies are also asked to answer a short questionnaire and to provide a DNA sample for genetic studies. To collect the DNA, sterile cotton swabs are rubbed around the inside of the mouth to obtain cheek cells from which the DNA is extracted.

Read the detailed description

A number of genetic polymorphisms influence human folate, vitamin B12 and related micronutrient levels. Vitamin B12 and folate levels in pregnancy have been linked to birth defects including neural tube defects, orofacial clefts, and congenital heart disease. Additionally, related analytes, such as homocysteine, may be related to birth defects and pregnancy complications. The behavior of maternal serum micronutrients and related analytes throughout human pregnancy is not well described. In this study, we aim to characterize the patterns of micronutrient status during pregnancy. We plan to perform biochemical analyses on serial blood samples collected from 500 pregnant women at five intervals spanning early pregnancy and the post partum period. We will also characterize neonatal micronutrient status using a specimen of umbilical cord blood. These blood specimens, as well as buccal swab specimens collected from the fathers, will also be evaluated to measure the influence of genetic variants on metabolite levels. The major outcomes measured will be longitudinal maternal micronutrient levels and aggregate alleel frequencies among family triads. Comparisons will be made between the presence of genetic variants, biochemical parameters, and clinical phenotype. At a later date we also plan to study the same metabolic and genetic parameters in a large cohort of healthy individuals. Characterizing these biochemical and genetic variants should provide insight into the metabolic processes of normal and complicated pregnancies.

Keywords
Homocysteine, Vitamin B12, Birth Defects, Pregnancy, Folate, Irish Individuals
Medical subject headings
Congenital Abnormalities

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted21 Jun 2006 (estimated)
  2. Study start16 Dec 2003
  3. Study completion10 Dec 2007

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00340366
Sponsor's protocol ID
999904068
Other IDs
04-HG-N068
Status last verified
10 Dec 2007
First submitted
19 Jun 2006
Last updated
2 Jul 2017
Results posted
No

Publications

  • Kirke PN, Molloy AM, Daly LE, Burke H, Weir DG, Scott JM. Maternal plasma folate and vitamin B12 are independent risk factors for neural tube defects. Q J Med. 1993 Nov;86(11):703-8.

    PubMed 8265769

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Pregnancy and Birth Defects, run by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) at 1 site in Ireland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Ireland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00340366, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jul 2017.

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