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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
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Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

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Early pregnancy B vitamin status, one carbon metabolism, pregnancy outcome and child development

Pol Solé-Navais1, Pere Cavallé-Busquets2, Joan D Fernandez-Ballart1

  • 1Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), IISPV, Spain; CIBER (CB06/03) ISCIII, Spain.

Biochimie
|December 25, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Periconception folic acid supplementation is crucial for preventing neural tube defects. Maternal folate and cobalamin status impact one-carbon metabolism, influencing fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes like birth weight and preterm birth risk.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Periconception folic acid supplementation is recommended to prevent neural tube defects.
  • Variations exist in folic acid dosage, timing, and duration during pregnancy.
  • The review examines nutrient interactions and their impact on fetal development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effects of periconception and pregnancy folate, cobalamin, and betaine status on one-carbon metabolism.
  • To assess the influence of one-carbon metabolism on fetal growth and pregnancy outcomes.
  • To analyze the impact of high-dose folic acid in mothers with low cobalamin status.

Main Methods:

  • Review of prospective studies.
  • Analysis of nutrient status (folate, cobalamin, betaine) during periconception and pregnancy.
  • Examination of one-carbon metabolism markers, including homocysteine and dimethylglycine.

Main Results:

  • Folic acid cessation post-first trimester leads to decreased folate status and increased betaine conversion to dimethylglycine.
  • Low maternal folate status is linked to higher dimethylglycine production.
  • Elevated homocysteine is associated with lower birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation.
  • Low maternal folate status increases preterm birth risk.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal nutrient status, particularly folate and cobalamin, significantly influences one-carbon metabolism.
  • Disruptions in one-carbon metabolism can negatively affect fetal growth and increase risks for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
  • Optimizing periconception and pregnancy nutrition is vital for healthy fetal development and successful pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords:
Child developmentHomocysteinePregnancy outcome

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