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Vitamin B12 and folate during pregnancy and offspring motor, mental and social development at 2 years of age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2011

V. K. Bhate ,
S. M. Joshi ,
R. S. Ladkat ,
U. S. Deshmukh ,
H. G. Lubree ,
P. A. Katre ,
D. S. Bhat ,
E. C. Rush  and
C. S. Yajnik
V. K. Bhate
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
S. M. Joshi
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
R. S. Ladkat
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
U. S. Deshmukh
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
H. G. Lubree
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
P. A. Katre
Affiliation:
Persistent Systems Ltd, Pune, India
D. S. Bhat
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
E. C. Rush
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Child Health, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
C. S. Yajnik*
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
*
*Address for correspondence: Prof. C. S. Yajnik, Director, Diabetes Unit, KEM Hospital, Rasta Peth, Pune 411011, India. (Email [email protected]/[email protected])
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Abstract

Insufficiency of vitamin B12 (B12) and folate during pregnancy can result in low concentrations in the fetus and have adverse effects on brain development. We investigated the relationship between maternal B12 and folate nutrition during pregnancy and offspring motor, mental and social development at two years of age (2 y). Mothers (n = 123) and their offspring (62 girls, 61 boys) from rural and middle-class urban communities in and around Pune city were followed through pregnancy up to 2 y. Maternal B12 and folate concentrations were measured at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. At 2 y, the Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants was used to determine motor and mental developmental quotients and the Vineland Social Maturity Scale for the social developmental quotient. Overall, 62% of the mothers had low B12 levels (<150 pmol/l) and one mother was folate deficient during pregnancy. Maternal B12 at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation was associated with offspring B12 at 2 y (r = 0.29, r = 0.32, P < 0.001), but folate was not associated with offspring folate. At 2 y, motor development was associated with maternal folate at 28 and 34 weeks of gestation. Mental and social development quotients were associated positively with head circumference and negatively with birth weight. In addition, pregnancy B12 and folate were positively associated with mental and social development quotients. Maternal B12 and folate during intrauterine life may favorably influence brain development and function. Pregnancy provides a window of opportunity to enhance fetal psychomotor (motor and mental) development.

Keywords

developmental quotientsfolatematernal vitamin B12offspring
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 123 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2011

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