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Perturbations to extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell migration and invasion are associated with the development of placenta-mediated diseases. Phytochemicals found in the lowbush blueberry plant (Vaccinium angustifolium) have been shown to influence cell migration and invasion in models of tumorigenesis and noncancerous, healthy cells, however never in EVT cells. We hypothesized that the phenolic compounds present in V. angustifolium leaf extract promote trophoblast migration and invasion. Using the HTR-8/SVneo human EVT cell line and Boyden chamber assays, the influence of V. angustifolium leaf extract (0 to 2 × 10 ng/ml) on trophoblast cell migration (n = 4) and invasion (n = 4) was determined. Cellular proliferation and viability were assessed using immunoreactivity to Ki67 (n = 3) and trypan blue exclusion assays (n = 3), respectively. At 20 ng/ml, V. angustifolium leaf extract increased HTR-8/SVneo cell migration and invasion (p < .01) and did not affect cell proliferation or viability. Chlorogenic acid was identified as a major phenolic compound of the leaf extract and the most active compound. Evidence from Western blot analysis (n = 3) suggests that the effects of the leaf extract and chlorogenic acid on trophoblast migration and invasion are mediated through an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein (AMP) kinase-dependent mechanism. Further investigations examining the potential therapeutic applications of this natural health product extract and its major chemical compounds in the context of placenta-mediated diseases are warranted.

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Background Most pregnant or lactating women in Canada will not meet iodine requirements without iodine supplementation. Objective To assess iodine status of 132 mother-infant pairs based on secondary analyses of a vitamin D supplementation trial in breastfed infants from Montréal, Canada. Methods Maternal iodine status was assessed using breastmilk iodine concentration (BMIC). Singleton, term-born infants were studied from 1−36 mo of age. Usual (adjusted for within-person variation) iodine intakes were estimated from urinary iodine and creatinine concentrations. Iodine status was assessed using median urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) and by estimating inadequate intakes by the cut-point method using a proposed Estimated Average Requirement for infants 0−6 mo of age (72 µg/d). Results At 1, 3 and 6 mo of age, 70%, 63% and 3% of infants were exclusively breastfed, respectively. From 1−36 mo of age (n = 82−129), median UIC were ≥100 µg/L (range: 246−403 µg/L), the cutoff for adequate intakes set by the WHO for children &lt;2 y. Almost all (98−99%) infants 1 and 2 mo, 2 and 3 mo and 3 and 6 mo of age had usual creatinine-adjusted iodine intakes ≥72 µg/d. Median BMIC was higher (p&lt;0.001) at 1 mo compared to 6 mo of lactation: 1 mo, 198 µg/kg (IQR: 124, 274; n = 105) and 6 mo, 109 µg/kg (IQR: 67, 168; n = 78). At 1 mo 96% and at 6 mo 79% of mothers had a BMIC ≥60 µg/kg, the lower limit of a normal reference range. Percentage of mothers that used a multivitamin-mineral (MVM) supplement containing iodine was 90% in pregnancy and 79% at 1 mo and 59% at 6 mo of lactation. Conclusions Iodine status of infants was adequate throughout infancy. These results support a recommendation that all women, who could become pregnant, or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding take a daily MVM supplement containing iodine. clinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00381914.