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Marginal maternal vitamin B12 status increases the risk of offspring with spina bifida

Pascal M W Groenen1, Iris A L M van Rooij, Petronella G M Peer

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|August 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency is linked to a higher risk of spina bifida in offspring. Lower vitamin B12 levels in mothers significantly increased the likelihood of having a child with this neural tube defect.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Spina bifida is a serious neural tube defect with significant public health implications.
  • The role of B vitamins and homocysteine in neural tube defect development is an area of ongoing research.
  • Understanding specific nutrient deficiencies associated with spina bifida is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between B vitamins (folate, B6, B12) and homocysteine levels and the risk of spina bifida in offspring.
  • To determine if maternal or child nutrient status differs in cases of spina bifida compared to controls.
  • To identify specific B vitamin deficiencies that may serve as risk factors for spina bifida.

Main Methods:

  • Case-control study involving 45 mothers and children with spina bifida and 83 control mother-child pairs.
  • Measurement of serum and red blood cell folate, serum vitamin B12, whole blood vitamin B6, and plasma homocysteine.
  • Statistical analysis to compare nutrient levels and assess risk associated with low vitamin B12 concentrations.

Main Results:

  • Mothers of children with spina bifida had significantly lower vitamin B12 concentrations (21% lower) compared to control mothers.
  • A maternal vitamin B12 concentration below 185 pmol/L was associated with a 3.5-fold increased risk of spina bifida.
  • No significant differences in folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or homocysteine levels were found in children with spina bifida after age adjustment.

Conclusions:

  • Marginal maternal vitamin B12 status is a significant risk factor for spina bifida in offspring.
  • Vitamin B12, rather than folate, B6, or homocysteine, emerged as a critical factor in this study.
  • Maintaining adequate maternal vitamin B12 levels may be important for preventing spina bifida.
Abstract

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