Abstract
Prealbumin (PA) and retinol-binding protein (RBP), hepatically synthesized transport proteins for vitamin A, are useful markers of nutritional protein/calorie adequacy. To confirm the fetal liver as the source of PA synthesis, we determined PA levels in 9 cord arterial and/or venous sera samples and in paired maternal sera at birth.
Prealbumin and RBP concentrations were then determined in maternal and cord sera of 36 preterm and 24 full term AGA infants (32.8 ± 3.3 and 40.3 ± 1.3 wks) to determine the effects of gestational age and maternal levels on cord levels. Maternal PA and RBP were similar for both gestational age groups. Cord levels between the groups were:
Two-way ANOVA, with Student-Newman-Keuls test, indicated a significant effect only of gestational age on PA, p=.002, and RBP, p=.01. CONCLUSIONS: 1) PA does not appear to be transferred from mother to fetus during gestation, indicating PA levels in newborns reflect intrauterine fetal hepatic synthesis, not maternal nutrition. 2) Serum PA and RBP increase with gestational age and must be considered when PA is used to evaluate postnatal nutritional status.
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Moskowitz, S., Spitzer, A. & Watkins, J. PREALBUMIN AS A MARKER OF FETAL NUTRITIONAL STATUS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 206 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00677
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00677