Related Experiment Videos
B group vitamins and cleft lip and cleft palate
J Schubert1, R Schmidt, E Syska
1Universitätsklinik für Mund, -Kiefer- und Plastische Gesichtschirurgie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
|October 4, 2002
Summary
Vitamin B deficiency during pregnancy significantly increases cleft lip and palate (CLP) risk in susceptible mouse strains. Supplementation showed varied effects, highlighting the interplay between genetics and nutrition in CLP prevention.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Nutritional science
- Teratology
Background:
- B group vitamins, including folic acid, are empirically known to prevent cleft lip and palate (CLP) in humans.
- Clinical prevention trials for malformations have largely relied on empirical evidence without fully elucidating underlying mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms behind the preventive effects of B vitamins on CLP.
- To assess the teratogenic effects of vitamin B deficiency and food restriction during gestation in different mouse strains.
- To evaluate the efficacy of vitamin B supplementation in a genetically susceptible CLP mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Investigated teratogenic effects of vitamin B deficiency (days 1-18) and food restriction (days 12-13) in NMRI and A/WySn mice.
- Assessed the impact of vitamin B group supplementation/treatment in a CLP-susceptible strain.
- Compared results with a teratogenetically induced cleft palate model.
Main Results:
- NMRI mice showed higher susceptibility to vitamin deficiency, increasing the cleft palate (CP) rate from 3.8% to 25%.
- A/WySn mice exhibited a high spontaneous CP rate (28-44%) but were relatively resistant to teratogenic induction.
- Total B group vitamin deficiency had the strongest teratogenic effect, causing up to 25% CP in NMRI mice.
- Vitamin B group treatment did not significantly alter the CP rate in A/WySn mice.
Conclusions:
- Genetic background significantly influences susceptibility to teratogenic effects of vitamin deficiency.
- Total B group vitamin deficiency poses a substantial risk for cleft palate development.
- Understanding the interaction between genetic factors and nutritional status is crucial for CLP etiology and prevention.
- Further research can clarify the role of B vitamins in clinical CLP prevention strategies.