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Child's homocysteine concentration at 2 years is influenced by pregnancy vitamin B12 and folate status

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2011

H. G. Lubree ,
P. A. Katre ,
S. M. Joshi ,
D. S. Bhat ,
U. S. Deshmukh ,
N. S. Memane ,
S. R. Otiv ,
E. C. Rush  and
C. S. Yajnik
H. G. Lubree
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
P. A. Katre
Affiliation:
Persistent Systems P Ltd, Pune, India
S. M. Joshi
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
D. S. Bhat
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
N. S. Memane
Affiliation:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Diabetology Research Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
S. R. Otiv
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. (E-mails [email protected], [email protected])
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Abstract

Longitudinal studies investigating vitamin B12 and folate status of mothers and their offspring will provide a better understanding of intergenerational nutrition. During pregnancy and 2 years (2y) after delivery, we measured plasma vitamin B12 and folate concentrations in 118 women [aged (mean ± s.d.) 22.9 ± 3.9y] who attended a rural (n = 68) or an urban (n = 50) antenatal clinic in Pune, India. Cord blood vitamin B12 and folate were measured, and when the child was 2y total homocysteine (tHcy) was also measured. Demographic and diet measurements were recorded using standard methods.

Pregnancy plasma vitamin B12 concentration at 34 weeks was low [median (25th, 75th), 115 (95, 147) pm]; 75% had low status (<150 pm). Plasma folate was high (mean ± s.d., 33 ± 21 nm); one had a folate concentration <7 pm. Cord plasma vitamin B12 and folate concentrations were higher than and positively associated with maternal concentrations. In stepwise regression, higher child vitamin B12 at 2y was predicted (total R 2 15.7%) by pregnancy vitamin B12 (std β 0.201, R 2 7.7%), current consumption of cow's milk (std β 0.194, R 2 3.3%) and whether breast feeding was stopped before 2y (std β −0.234 R 2 7.2%). Child's 2y tHcy concentration was high (11.4 ± 3.6 μm) and predicted by lower pregnancy vitamin B12 (std β −0.206, R 2 4.1%), lack of vitamin supplementation (std β −0.256, R 2 5.6%) in pregnancy and whether currently breastfed (std β 0.268, R 2 8.4%).

Low maternal vitamin B12 status in pregnancy and prolonged breast-feeding results in disturbed one-carbon metabolism in offspring at 2y. Supplementation of women of child-bearing age, particularly during pregnancy and lactation, may improve the homocysteine status of these children.

Keywords

homocysteineintergenerational one-carbon metabolismoffspringpregnancyvitamin B12 insufficiency
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 32 - 38
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2011

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