Vitamin B₁, B₂ and B₆ in relation to anthropometry, hemoglobin and albumin of newborns and their mothers from northeast Thailand

The weight and height measurements of fifty-three mothers and their newborns residing in the northeast of Thailand were recorded. Hemoglobin, albumin and cord blood samples were taken immediately after delivery. The vitamin B₁, B₂ and B₆ status of the women and their newborns was assessed through functional tests. Vitamin B₁ and B₂ status of the newborns was found to be generally better than those of their mothers. This is not so, however, for vitamin B₆. The rate of deficiency in the mothers was highest for vitamin B₂ (54.7%). The mothers' height, hemoglobin and albumin concentrations and their vitamin B₂ status correlated with those of their children at birth. 50% of low birth weight deliveries (2500 g and below) were included in this study. The risk of a low birth weight delivery cannot, however, be explained by any of the biochemical variables. Although the rate of low birth weight is used commonly to determine mother and child health care, this paper shows that for Hb, albumin, Vitamins B₁, B₂ and B₆, it is not an effective indicator used to determine nutritional deficiencies in mothers.