Relationship between prepregnancy BMI and the concentrations of iron, calcium, and magnesium in serum and hair during the first trimester of pregnancy in women.

BACKGROUND: In women of childbearing age, a low dietary supply of iron, calcium, and magnesium is often observed. Minerals deficiency in pregnant women is often associated with abnormal body weight and may impact fetal development disorders. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and the dietary intake of iron, calcium and magnesium and their concentrations in serum and hair in pregnant women. METHOD: The study involved 97 Caucasian/white low-risk pregnant women at 12 weeks of gestation. The analysis of minerals in serum and hair samples was performed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Pre-pregnancy BMI was calculated based on self-reported weight. The study used a validated questionnaire and a 24-h recall nutrition interview, which were analyzed using Aliant software. RESULTS: It was found that overweight and obese women exhibited higher magnesium concentration in serum, while iron content in serum and hair was markedly lower compared to women with normal body weight. The average total supply of iron was below the recommendation in pregnant women. Moreover, an inverse significant relationship was observed between BMI and iron concentration in hair and serum in the whole population. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, being overweight or obese before pregnancy is associated with low dietary iron intake and low iron concentration in serum and hair during the first trimester of pregnancy in women.

Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Diagnosing Childhood Cancers and Genetic-Related Chronic Diseases.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein commonly found during fetal development, but its role extends beyond birth. Throughout the first year of life, AFP levels can remain high, which can potentially mask various conditions from the neurological, metabolic, hematological, endocrine, and early childhood cancer groups. Although AFP reference values and clinical utility have been established in adults, evaluating AFP levels in children during the diagnostic process, treatment, and post-treatment surveillance is still associated with numerous diagnostic pitfalls. These challenges arise from the presence of physiologically elevated AFP levels, inconsistent data obtained from different laboratory tests, and the limited population of children with oncologic diseases that have been studied. To address these issues, it is essential to establish updated reference ranges for AFP in this specific age group. A population-based study involving a statistically representative group of patients could serve as a valuable solution for this purpose.

The Role of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Contemporary Oncology: The Path from a Diagnostic Biomarker to an Anticancer Drug.

This article presents contemporary opinion on the role of alpha-fetoprotein in oncologic diagnostics and treatment. This role stretches far beyond the already known one-that of the biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma. The turn of the 20th and 21st centuries saw a significant increase in knowledge about the fundamental role of AFP in the neoplastic processes, and in the induction of features of malignance and drug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma. The impact of AFP on the creation of an immunosuppressive environment for the developing tumor was identified, giving rise to attempts at immunotherapy. The paper presents current and prospective therapies using AFP and its derivatives and the gene therapy options. We directed our attention to both the benefits and risks associated with the use of AFP in oncologic therapy.

Influence of selected factors on serum AFP levels in pregnant women in terms of prenatal screening accuracy - literature review.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is one of the biochemical components of the triple (T-3) and quadruple (T-4) test used so far in prenatal screening mainly for trisomy 21 (T21) and neural tube defects (NTDs). Based on many years of experience and data collected during these studies, a variety of factors have been identified that can affect a pregnant woman's serum AFP level, and thus the risk assessment of trisomy 21 (T21) and neural tube defects. These include both unaccounted for purely medical data (e.g., from baseline information about the patient, assisted reproduction methods used, comorbidities and emerging pregnancy pathologies) and errors made during statistical analysis. Since the triple or quadruple test is usually performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, most scientific studies are based solely on results from this period of pregnancy - limited data are available for the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. In the era of new improved screening tests, AFP has the potential to become an independent marker for pregnancy well-being evaluation.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) - new aspects of a well-known marker in perinatology.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a serum protein, which is characteristic of the fetal development period and a well-known oncological marker. The predominance of AFP among serum proteins is common in fetal life, whereas after birthing its functions are gradually taken over by albumins. An understanding of the mechanism of AFP transfer between fetus and mother has led to the development of screening tests for identifying neural tube defects and Down's syndrome. Currently, the knowledge on patophysiology and the possible importance of AFP in perinatology and fetal medicine extends far beyond those 2 disease states. Throughout the 50 years of research on AFP, there has been dynamic progress of diagnostic techniques, from the qualitative ones that are used solely for scientific studies to the widely used radioimmunoassays and immunoenzymatic assays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, chemiluminescence immunoassay, time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay). Some genetic mutations cause complete inhibition of AFP production by the fetus. This affects the results of screening tests during pregnancy, and also leads to constantly high levels of AFP in adults, which are not linked to oncogenesis.

Effect of Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation on the Level of Essential and Toxic Elements in Young Women.

Although simultaneous supplementation of iron and folic acid is justified, the potential interactions between these micronutrients and other elements are poorly known. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of iron and folic acid supplementation on the levels of selected essential and toxic elements in the serum of micronutrient-deficient young women. A total of 40 women participated in this study and were divided into two groups: study group (n = 23) (with iron and folate deficiency) and control group (n = 17). The study group received iron and folic acid supplements for 3 months. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after the completion of the study period. Women completed a 3-day food intake record. We calculated the body mass index (BMI) of all the participants. Cellular morphology was analyzed in whole blood, and biochemical parameters were determined in serum. Elements were measured in serum by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). According to our results, in the case of the study group, the supplementation of iron and folic acid restored their levels; however, it caused a significant decrease in the level of zinc, calcium, and magnesium. In the case of the control group, at the end of the study period, there was a marked decrease in the level of iron. Interestingly, there was an increase in the level of arsenic and vanadium in both groups. In conclusion, simultaneous supplementation of iron and folic acid impairs the level of zinc, calcium, and magnesium in women of childbearing age.