Maternal homocysteine and small-for-gestational-age offspring: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Growth retardation in utero leading to small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality and with lifelong consequences such as poor cognitive function and cardiovascular diseases. Maternal total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations have been linked to a wide range of adverse pregnancy outcomes and could possibly influence birth weight.